This experiment is part of a larger project, a study of an alternative to residence in fixed geopolitical jurisdictions, specifically very large modular floating oceanic structures. The experiment consists of the design, construction and testing of a ¼ scale model of the hexagonal tile modules that make up the proposed habitat.
Develop methods for the production of cellular concrete.
Develop techniques for casting concrete platforms with embedded arrays of large closed-cell airspaces, in earthwork forms.
Develop a means of launching from the casting site.
Investigate means of minimizing labor, materials and equipment costs of production.
Measure structural integrity under practical conditions of expected use, compression, tensile, and shear strength from fresh-cast to fully cured.
Investigate effect of stresses from launching, loading, anchoring, and storm wind and wave impact.
Investigate durability and expected useful lifetime.
Investigate means of coupling platforms into larger assemblies.
Investigate use of interior space for storage and habitat.
These are some metrics we can use to judge the degree of success of this part of the project.
Physical Results Achieved:
Cellular concrete generated.
Platform casted.
Platform launched.
Platform floats with useful buoyancy.
Platform has good structural integrity.
Access to internal storage space.
Information Gained:
How to produce cellular concrete (eg foam generation and mixing)
How to cast platform with storage cells.
How to launch platform
Strength of cellular concrete castings (short and long-term)
Cost of cast cellular concrete platforms
Time, materials and tools required to construct cellular concrete platforms
Problems, hazards, obstacles to construction.