Control of human induced floor vibrations

Abstract

With the growing demand for open, column-free floor spaces and the advances in material strength, floor vibration serviceability criterion has been of growing importance within the past 20-30 years. All floor systems are flexible and when introduced to a dynamic loading respond in a vibratory manner. The issues with floor serviceability arise when the floor vibrates in an uncomfortable way when exposed to everyday loading, for example human footfall in an office building. Vibrating floors have been divided into 4 categories based on the perceptibility by humans: (a) vibration, though present, is not perceived by the occupants; (b) vibration is perceived but it does not annoy the occupant; (c) vibration annoys and disturbs; (d) vibration is so severe that it makes people sick. This thesis is focused on the control of human induced floor vibrations. In order to provide the reader with practical insight on the subject, a case study of an existing steel framed office building that experienced excessive and annoying floor vibrations will be discussed and analyzed.

(cont.) As a result of this case study, it has been determined that the Alan and Rainer scale, along with the Modified Reiher Meister scale and the Wiss and Paremelee scale, accurately describe the human response criteria. Also determined was that the American Institute of Steel Construction Floor Vibrations Due to Human Activity (Design Guide 11) has extremely conservative acceleration criteria that basically aim to make the vibration not noticeable at all.