Modelling and design of a flexible connector for modular floating platforms

In this study a new design of flexible connection for modular floating platforms is presented, the connector is based on elastomeric bearings, a well-known technology used principally in civil engineering to damp vibrations and oscillations in bridges and earthquake-resistant buildings, but that is also widely used in marine environments. The bearing is designed to receive three loads: compression, shear, and bending, and provide sufficient stiffness to efficiently absorb wave-induced platform motions. First, full analysis is done for the compression, shear, and bending stiffness in order to examine the link between construction features of the bearings and the values of stiffness, furthermore for a given size of the elastomeric bearing, the effect of the number of reinforcing plates on its stiffness is investigated. Next, the design and modelling of the flexible connector is conducted, according to the required load and displacement conditions, the optimal value for compression, shear and bending stiffness is obtained. Then, the adequate number of bearings, their size and the number of reinforcing plates is determined, in order to obtain the desired values of stiffness.