I find your troll replies quite amusing. I would have guessed that somebody who knows it all would know that 15" culvert pipe is very durable HDPE... but I guess not...
The idea was presented as a concept which "almost" anybody could see would be workable in one form or another. Certainly better than little mesh bags holding bottles..
Its much easier to call someone a troll than actually support what you are saying, with basic calculations and/or prototypes.
And yes, "15" culvert pipe is durable HDPE", but it isn't structurally sound for constant, unsupported shocks. It relies on compressed fill to provide its certified use, with strict instructions on the size and placement of surrounding fill. As a docking pier, it has to resist tonnes of lateral water pressure on a constant basis. It wont resist the sideways pressures of the heavy tyres. Having a steel rod will help with structural support, but my bet is it wouldnt last for long. You could use 4 or 5 rods, running inside or outside the pipe, but unless you had them welded into a girder, they would end up distorting and bending in time.
Likewise, being mere HDPE, I havnt seen your plans for a way to fasten and secure the floats to the platform. Where are your structural attachment points ?
And, to add to the list of woes for this ill advised concept, how about doing some calculations to show the effects of marine growth on the floats.
For my own interest, i have run up a basic calculations that you should have done, and based on "off the top of my head" assumptions, calculate that you would get a maximum of 90 Kilos of flotation per 'Cylinder' for 6 tyres.
Now, you need to design a platform that will hold all these fragile columns together that wont sink them from its weight.
If a steel platform could be built say 3 x 3 metres, and you used 9 columns, you might get 800 kilos of support in total, ( together with a huge loading from strong sea swells due to protruding 'legs') . Now, for safety, assume half of the bouyancy is held in reserve, that gives you a tiny 400 kilos of buoyancy for the whole platform.
Compare that to say a 3 x 3 x .5 metre high density foam platform, that already provides a standing structure can support 4,500 kilos ( 2.5 tonnes useful loading )
You would be better off building a wire cage and filling it with PET bottles. The tyres are an inefficient and polluting element in the design.
Now, why don't start proving your concept with sound calculations and/or prototypes.
Hopefully, my comments will prevent unsuspecting enthusiasts from assuming you know what you are talking about, and wasting their time.
