When designing a structure, it is important to consider:

TDAY
Semi-submersible platform oilrigs
are heavy enough to be partially
submersed in water, but buoyant
enough to still float in water. This
kind of platform is useful in water
depths between 60m-3000m
Forces acting on the structure
What forces are acting on your structure
o Natural forces from the environment weather, storms, natural disasters!
o "an-made forces weight of ob#ects that the structure must support and the resulting
forces due to movement from ob#ects or propulsion.
Direction of the forces acting on your structure$
o %re their forces acting vertically and&or hori'ontally on your structure(
Type of forces acting on your structure
o )ompression forces* forces that are pushing on your structure
o Tension forces* forces that are pulling on your structure
o +ending forces* forces that cause your structure to bend.
Joints of your structure
o The #oints are where two members #oin

Materials used
,t is important to consider the purpose of your structure and the environment
your structure will be built in.
The advantages and disadvantages of the types of material you use. ,s it
lightweight or heavy( )ost effective or e-pensive( .urable or brittle( /ill it float
or sink( /ill it erode or not( 0tc.

Shape of structure
1ome shapes are stronger than others for building triangles are stronger than
s2uares, etc.!
The base of the structure must be strong enough and big enough to support the
height and weight of the structure.
3ou must consider the overall shape of your structure that works best for the
purpose of your structure and the environment it$s in.
0
When designing a structure that floats, it is important to consider:
Buoanc
Buoanc is a force that acts upwards on your structure. The weight of your
structure acts down and opposite to the force of buoyancy
The force of buoyancy is equal to the weight of the fluid your structure displaces
/hen the weight of your ob#ect is more than the weight of the fluid your ob#ect
displaces, it is negati!el buoant and will sink downwards.
/hen the weight of your ob#ect is less than the weight of the fluid your ob#ect
displaces, it is positi!el buoant and will float upwards.
/hen the weight of your ob#ect is equal to the weight of the fluid your ob#ect
displaces, it is neutrall buoant and will remain vertically stationary.
Surface area: the amount of area that the weight of your structure is spread over
and the amount of area that the force of the water is applied upwards on.
The heavier your structure, the more surface area you need to make your
structure float. 3our ob#ect is now displacing more water so the force of buoyancy
will be greater.
Stabilit
)enter of mass is the point at which an ob#ect can be balanced, or the point on
ob#ect that acts as if all the mass of the ob#ect was centered on that point.
The lower the center of mass of your structure, the more stable it will be.
)enter of mass is lowered by adding weight to the bottom of your structure
Competition Grading Scheme
Structure
Is the structure structurally sound?
Doesnt easily bend or sag
Does it use proper supporting beams
Does it use shapes that
Does it have appropriate joint connections
Does it have a proper base
___ /35 points
Does it look professional
Does it have even placed beams/joints
Is it symmetrical and does it look clean
Does everything have a purpose
___ /15 points
uoyancy
!bility for structure to float on "ater# 10 points
Structure floats evenly "ithout one side dipping noticeably# 5 points
Structure can "ithstand a "ave# 5 points
Structure can float "ith pump attached to it# 5 points
Drilling
!bility to successfully lo"er drill/ tube into "ater using only string provided# 5 points
!bility to puncture surface using only $drill%# 5 points
!bility for structure to pump out all oil "ith structure still floating 5 points
Bonus points: 2 points for every large s&uare magnet that the structure can hold before
tipping over or sinking