Experimental Evaluation of a Sustainable Floating Shelter for Flood Resilience

Experimental Evaluation of a Sustainable Floating Shelter for Flood Resilience

P. Asha (1), Vishnu Sri M (2), Suveetha M (2)

(1) Professor, Department of Civil Engineering

Meenakshi Sundararajan Engineering College, Chennai-600024, India

(2) Final Year Student, Department of Civil Engineering Meenakshi Sundararajan Engineering College, Chennai-600024, India

Abstract – Floods are among the most destructive natural disasters, causing extensive damage to infrastructure, disruption of essential services, and displacement of communities worldwide. Conventional flood management strategies primarily focus on evacuation and post-disaster recovery, offering limited support during sudden flood events where immediate access to safe temporary shelter is essential. This study presents the exper-imental evaluation of a sustainable floating shelter prototype developed to enhance flood resilience through a lightweight and environmentally responsible design approach. A laboratory-scale prototype was experimentally investigated under controlled con-ditions to evaluate its buoyancy characteristics, floating stability, load- bearing behaviour, and overall structural performance. The experimental observations were interpreted using established principles of fluid mechanics and floating body stability. The results demonstrated stable floating behaviour, positive restoring characteristics, and satisfactory structural performance under representative loading conditions, showing good agreement be-tween theoretical predictions and experimental observations. The findings indicate that the proposed concept provides a feasible, sustainable, and cost-effective approach for temporary emergency shelter applications in flood-prone regions. The study establishes the engineering feasibility of sustainable floating shelter systems and provides a foundation for further research toward resilient flood-adaptive infrastructure.

Index TermsFlood resilience, Floating shelter, Sustainable design, Buoyancy analysis, Stability assessment, Experimental evaluation, Emergency housing.

1. Introduction

   Flooding is one of the most frequent and destructive natural disasters, affecting millions of people worldwide, particularly in low-lying and densely populated regions. In recent decades, the frequency and severity of flood events have increased ow- ing to rapid urbanization, inadequate drainage infrastructure, and changing climatic conditions. These factors have signif- icantly increased the vulnerability of communities, resulting in substantial economic losses, damage to infrastructure, and threats to human safety during flood events [1].Improving the resilience of communities against flood hazards has therefore

   become a key objective of sustainable disaster management strategies [2]. Conventional flood management strategies pri- marily emphasize structural protection measures, evacuation planning, and post-disaster rehabilitation. Although these ap- proaches play an important role in disaster risk reduction, they often provide limited protection during the initial stages of flooding when immediate access to safe temporary shelter is essential. This limitation has encouraged the development of adaptive shelter systems capable of remaining functional under varying water levels while improving the resilience of affected communities. Several engineering approaches have been pro- posed to enhance flood resilience, including elevated buildings, amphibious housing, and floating structural systems. Among these, floating structures have gained considerable attention because they adapt to rising water levels rather than resisting them, thereby minimizing structural damage and improving occupant safety [4]. Previous investigations have demonstrated the feasibility of amphibious housing as an adaptive solution for flood-prone regions [3]. Experimental studies have also confirmed that lightweight floating platforms can provide satisfactory buoyancy and stability for flood-resilient appli- cations [5]. Floating and amphibious housing concepts have also been investigated for adapting to fluctuating water levels [6], [7]. In addition, biomimetic design principles have been explored to improve the adaptability of amphibious structures [8], while studies conducted in vulnerable low-lying regions have highlighted the potential of floating architectural concepts for mitigating flood impacts [9]. Despite these advancements, many existing floating shelter systems are intended for per- manent installations and frequently involve specialized con- struction techniques, relatively high implementation costs, or location-specific infrastructure. Such limitations reduce their suitability for rapid deployment during emergency situations. Furthermore, comparatively few experimental investigations have focused on sustainable, lightweight, and modular floating shelter concepts that can be developed using readily available

   resources while maintaining satisfactory buoyancy and stabil- ity. To address these limitations, the present study experimen- tally evaluates a laboratory-scale sustainable floating shelter prototype intended for temporary flood-resilient applications. The investigation focuses on assessing key engineering per- formance parameters, including buoyancy behaviour, floating stability, load-bearing capability, and overall structural perfor- mance under controlled loading conditions. The experimental observations are interpreted using established principles of fluid mechanics to evaluate the feasibility of the proposed concept without disclosing proprietary implementation details. The outcomes of this study contribute to the advancement of sustainable flood-resilient shelter technologies and provide a foundation for future research and technological development in emergency flood management.

2. Materials and Methods

   The present study adopts an experimental approach to evaluate the floating performance of a laboratory-scale sustain- able floating shelter prototype developed for temporary flood- resilient applications. The investigation was carried out under controlled laboratory conditions to examine the engineering feasibility of the proposed concept based on the principles of buoyancy and floating body stability. The overall methodology adopted in this study is illustrated in Fig. 1.

   1. Prototype Development

      A laboratory-scale prototype was developed to investigate the feasibility of a sustainable floating shelter system intended for temporary use during flood events. The prototype was designed to provide adequate buoyancy, structural stability, and load-bearing capability while maintaining a lightweight and modular configuration suitable for laboratory-scale ex- perimentation. The primary objective of the prototype was to experimentally validate the engineering behaviour of the pro- posed floating concept under representative loading conditions. To protect ongoing intellectual property development, detailed construction features and proprietary implementation aspects are intentionally not disclosed in this paper.

   2. Experimental Setup

      The experimental investigation was conducted under con- trolled conditions using a water reservoir to simulate floating behaviour. The prototype was positioned on the water sur- face and allowed to attain stable equilibrium before testing. Representative external loads were then applied incrementally to simulate practical service conditions. At each loading stage, the floating response of the prototype was carefully observed and the corresponding measurements were recorded. Te laboratory-scale experimental setup used in the present investigation is shown in Fig. 2.

   3. Performance Evaluation

      The floating performance of the prototype was assessed using engineering parameters that govern the behaviour of floating structures. The selected performance indicators in-

      clude immersion depth, displaced water volume, buoyant Fig. 1. Research methodology adopted for the experimental investigation.

      E. Testing Procedure

      The prototype was initially allowed to float under its self- weight, after which external loads were applied gradually in successive stages. For each loading condition, the correspond- ing floating response was observed and relevant performance parameters were measured. Throughout the investigation, the prototype was monitored to ensure stable equilibrium and consistent experimental conditions. The recorded observations were subsequently analysed to evaluate buoyancy characteris- tics, floating stability, and overall structural performance under representative loading conditions.

3. Theoretical Background

   The floating behaviour of the prototype was evaluated using established principles of fluid mechanics and floating body stability. Theoretical calculations were performed to interpret the experimental observations and verify the performance of the floating shelter under different loading conditions.

   1. Buoyant Force

      According to Archimedes principle, the buoyant force acting on a floating body is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the submerged portion of the structure [10]. The buoyant force is expressed as

      Fb = gV (1)

      where,

      Fig. 2. Laboratory-scale floating shelter prototype during experimental evaluation under controlled conditions.

      force, floating stability, load-bearing behaviour, and freeboard. These parameters collectively provide an assessment of the operational safety and structural response of the prototype under different loading conditions.

      1. Analytical Assessment

      The experimental observations were interpreted using estab- lished principles of fluid mechanics. Buoyancy was evaluated according to Archimedes principle, while stability character- istics were assessed using conventional floating body stability relationships. The analytical assessment enabled comparison between theoretical predictions and experimentally observed behaviour, thereby validating the engineering performance of

      Fb = Buoyant force (N)

      = Density of water (kg/m3)

      g = Acceleration due to gravity (m/s2)

      V = Volume of displaced water (m3)

      The calculated buoyant force was compared with the ex- perimentally observed floating response to evaluate the load- supporting capability of the prototype.

   2. Floating Stability

      The stability of the floating prototype was assessed using the concept of metacentric height, which is commonly used to de- termine the equilibrium characteristics of floating bodies [11]. A positive metacentric height indicates stable equilibrium.

      GM = BM BG (2)

      where,

      GM = Metacentric height (m)

      BM = Distance between centre of buoyancy and metacentre

      BG = Distance between centre of buoyancy and centre of gravity The metacentric height was used to evaluate the stability of

      the prototype under different loading conditions.

   3. Factor of Safety

      The structural safety of the floating prototype was assessed using the factor of safety, which represents the ratio between the maximum safe load capacity and the applied load.

      Wmax

      the proposed floating shelter concept. FoS = W

      applied

      (3)

      where,

      FoS = Factor of Safety

      Wmax = Maximum safe load capacity

      Wapplied = Applied load

      A factor of safety greater than unity indicates that the structure remains within the safe operating range.

   4. Freeboard

   Freeboard is defined as the vertical distance between the water surface and the upper surface of the floating platform. Adequate freeboard is essential to prevent water ingress and maintain operational safety.

   f = H h (4)

   where,

   f = Freeboard (m)

   H = Height of floating platform (m)

   h = Depth of immersion (m)

   The freeboard values obtained experimentally were com- pared with analytical predictions to evaluate the floating per- formance of the prototype.

   Figure 3 illustrates the fundamental stability parameters considered in the present investigation.

   Fig. 3. Schematic representation of the stability parameters of a floating body.

4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

   The floating performance of the laboratory-scale proto- type was evaluated under representative loading conditions to investigate its buoyancy characteristics, floating stability, and overall structural behaviour. The experimentally measured parameters are summarized in Table I.

   The experimental results indicate that the prototype main- tained stable equilibrium throughout the investigation. As the applied load increased, the depth of immersion increased correspondingly, resulting in greater water displacement and a proportional increase in buoyant force. The observed be- haviour agrees well with Archimedes principle and confirms the expected response of a floating body subjected to incre- mental loading.

   TABLE I

   Experimental observations under representative loading conditions

   Loading Condition	Immersion Depth (m)	Displaced Volume (m3)	Buoyant Force (N)
   Condition 1	0.118	0.236	2315
   Condition 2	0.150	0.300	2943
   Condition 3	0.214	0.428	4199
   Condition 4	0.284	0.568	5572

   1. Buoyancy Behaviour

      Figure 4 illustrates the relationship between immersion depth and displaced water volume. A nearly linear trend is ob- served, indicating a predictable buoyancy response throughout the experimental investigation. This behaviour confirms that the prototype maintained adequate buoyant support under all investigated loading conditions.

      The relationship between displaced volume and buoyant force is presented in Fig. 5. The experimentally observed buoyant force increased proportionally with displaced water volume, demonstrating close agreement with theoretical pre- dictions derived from Archimedes principle.

      Fig. 4. Relationship between immersion depth and displaced water volume under representative loading conditions.

   2. Floating Stability

      The stability assessment confirmed that the prototype re- mained in stable equilibrium throughout the investigation. Positive restoring characteristics were observed under all load- ing conditions, indicating satisfactory floating stability. No significant structural deformation or excessive inclination was observed during the experimental investigation, demonstrating the capability of the floating system to maintain equilibrium under representative loading conditions.

   3. Freeboard Assessment

      Adequate freeboard was maintained throughout the experi- mental investigation despite the increase in immersion depth under higher loading conditions. The reduction in freeboard

      Fig. 6. Variation of freeboard under representative loading conditions.

      Fig. 5. Variation of buoyant force with displaced water volume.

      followed the expected behaviour of floating bodies and re- mained within acceptable limits for safe operation under the investigated conditions.

   4. Discussion

   The experimental observations demonstrate that the pro- posed floating shelter concept satisfies the fundamental en- gineering requirements of buoyancy, stability, and load- supporting capability for temporary flood-resilient applica- tions. The close agreement between theoretical calculations and experimental observations validates the analytical ap- proach adopted in the present study.

   Compared with previously reported floating shelter con- cepts [3], [5], [8], the present investigation demonstrates that laboratory-scale sustainable floating systems can achieve reliable floating performance using a simplified structural configuration suitable for further technological development. The findings establish a foundation for future optimization and full-scale implementation while providing flexibility for future design refinement.

5. CONCLUSION

This study presented the experimental evaluation of a laboratory-scale sustainable floating shelter prototype devel- oped for temporary flood-resilient applications. The floating performance of the prototype was investigated under rep- resentative loading conditions to assess its buoyancy char- acteristics, stability, load-bearing behaviour, and freeboard. The experimental observations demonstrated stable floating performance throughout the investigation, with results showing good agreement with the theoretical predictions based on established principles of fluid mechanics.

The analytical and experimental evaluations confirmed that the prototype maintained positive floating stability and satis- factory buoyancy under the investigated loading conditions. The observed floating behaviour indicates that the proposed

concept has the potential to serve as a sustainable and adapt- able temporary shelter solution for flood-prone regions while supporting environmentally responsible engineering practices. The present investigation was limited to laboratory-scale experimentation under controlled static conditions. The effects of environmental factors such as wave action, flowing water, wind loading, and long-term durability were not considered and therefore require further investigation before large-scale

implementation.

Accordingly, the findings should be interpreted as an initial proof of concept rather than a comprehensive assessment of full-scale operational performance. Future work will focus on the optimisation of the structural configuration, evaluation un- der dynamic environmental conditions, and validation through full-scale field testing. Additional studies may also investigate the integration of renewable energy systems, smart monitoring technologies, and modular deployment strategies to enhance the applicability of sustainable floating shelter systems for disaster resilience.

Acknowledgment

The authors express their sincere gratitude to Dr. Phanisri Pradeep Pratapa, Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, for his valuable guidance during the conceptual development of this research. The authors also gratefully acknowledge the Di- rector, Centre for Water Resources, Anna University, and Dr. V. Lenin Kalyanasundaram, Professor, Centre for Water Resources, Anna University, for their technical guidance, encouragement, and support during the experimental inves- tigation. The authors further thank the faculty members of the Department of Civil Engineering, Meenakshi Sundararajan Engineering College, Chennai, for providing the necessary academic support and facilities to carry out this research successfully.

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