Design to Prevent Floor Vibrations

Abstract

Efficiently designed floor systems are occasionally found to be susceptible to annoying vibrations induced by human occupancy. Improved methods of construction and design, which make use of high strength-lightweight concrete and high strength steels resulting in reduced mass and rigidity of the floor systems without loss of structural soundness, may make large floor areas, free of partitions, susceptible to transient vibrations induced by small impacts such as human footfalls. Under certain circumstances these vibrations can be very annoying to occupants of buildings. Since the occupants are both the source and the sensor, the vibration cannot be isolated as with mechanical equipment, and must be controlled by the structural system.