Seismic Response of Large Pile Moored Floating Structures

Pile moored floats, like those at ferry terminals, are often assumed to be seismically isolated by the resistance of the surrounding water and are frequently designed without a seismic evaluation. To test that assumption, Erik Soderberg, Leah Olson, and Michael Jordan analyzed several floats designed for the San Francisco Bay Area. In this paper, they show that water resistance does not significantly reduce float response and recommend seismic evaluation for pile moored floats in high seismic regions.