Design guide for ferrocement floating pontoons for flood-adapted housing in the Mekong Delta

Abstract

Climate change, sea-level rise, and increasingly severe floods have intensified the demand for flood-adapted housing solutions in the Mekong Delta. Ferrocement floating pontoons are a promising option because they can be locally fabricated, provide adequate structural performance for thin-walled water-retaining tanks, and enable multifunctional use (e.g., flotation during floods and water storage in dry seasons). This study develops a practical calculation and design guide for ferrocement floating pontoons serving as buoyant foundations for floating/amphibious houses. The guide defines representative pontoon cross-sections (rectangular and U-shaped) and preliminary buoyancy sizing based on floor-area loading, equilibrium flotation, and freeboard requirements; formulates actions and load combinations consistent with pontoon working stages, including: pontoons resting on the ground subjected to external hydrostatic pressure and ground reaction, initial flotation under buoyancy, lateral water pressure and wave effects, and special accidental conditions including impact; and provides structural checks for strength and serviceability, emphasizing crack-width control for durability in non-aggressive and aggressive/water-retaining environments. For house systems guided by four corner posts or restrained by four flexible mooring lines, the guide highlights controlled vertical movement and connection detailing to prevent pontoon separation. The proposed workflow supports safer, more consistent engineering design and local deployment of ferrocement pontoons for flood resilience in the Mekong Delta.