Sustaining of floating structure for houseboat using FRP

A houseboat is not a foreign concept all around the world. The houseboat materials used in Kenyir Lake and Temenggor Lake are drum barrels and steels. The strength of these houseboats are affected by either cracking, damage or corrosion. The strength and resistance of material will prevent the houseboat’s surface from being corroded, cracked and leaked. The material of houseboat, as well as the environmental effect are important to estimate the right ratio of different material combinations and evaluate the best of the highest tensile test with which to be used in designing the houseboat. The design of the houseboat is simulated in the Maxsurf Software and analyzed in upright hydrostatic analysis, large angle stability analysis and specified condition analysis. Solidwork software calculates the stress and sustainability in environmental impact. Tensile test and immersion test are carried out for the analyses of the stress and strain behavior and the specimens are made from different combination of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) materials namely tissue mat FRP, chopped strand mat FRP, woven roving FRP, epoxy, catalyst and color pigment. An immersion test is conducted for a minimum of 30 days of curing. The current study has mix of combination 3 (272.99MPa, 0.28) and is identified as the best of tensile test for various conditions and exposure of non - immersion and immersion under seawater or freshwater. It is implemented on the hull design which passes the material and thickness the simulation of environment effect analysis and yields better results in sustainability.