Floating House Platform Stability Test with a Lightweight Concrete Cover Made of Expanded Polystyrene System (EPS)

Abstract

Coastal area which affected by floods and tides has problems about safety and comfortable environment. The world of floating construction has introduced substructure foundations made from expanded polystyrene system (EPS) with a lightweight concrete cover. The styrofoam platform must meet the buoyancy, stability and center height test requirements. The research aims to analyze the magnitude of the buoyant force (Fa) against downward force due to the load weight on platform. The platform is strong and stable when upward force (Fa) is greater than total structure weight (G). The object will float if buoyant force (Fa) is greater than the gravitational force (g). The balance is stable if center of object gravity (Bo) is below the center of buoyancy (Ao), otherwise it will be in arbitrary balance. The height of centrum can be determined m > 0, means the object is stable. The research results show that 6.12x5.12x0.68m Styrofoam platform with a buoyancy force of 18,246.6 kg is able to withstand an additional load of 3647.62 kg with an SF value of 2.59. It means there is a linear relationship between magnitude of loading value and sinking height of Styrofoam platform. The safety factor value decreases as the sinking height of platform increases. The stability value of Fa/G is 3.01>1.2. The metacentrum’s height is 16.531 > 0, so the platform with a lightweight concrete cover is declared stable and safe to use.