Selected research issues of prototype floating systems

The paper presents a solution that can be used as a temporary supplement to the existing infrastructure in cases of natural disasters, during structure or bridge repair, in military applications and in areas where it is necessary to provide a floating system crossing. The genesis of the proposed structure and its development, as well as examples of applications of the basic module, referred to as the river module – the floating cassette with the pneumatic pontoon – are presented. The original solutions, such as the bow–stern modules, designed using modern, light and durable materials acting as deflectors, are also described. Examples of the use of floating structures composed of identical/repeatable modules–cassettes are shown. The results of experimental tests of two prototype river modules sets are presented as a validation for numerical studies. Selected aspects of static, kinematic and dynamic analyses using finite element and multibody simulations are presented. The numerical simulation of the prototype floating bridge with an assessment of the impact of clearances and an estimation of the kinematic parameters of the floating ribbon with various configurations are described.