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Abstract
Structural engineers have long been trying to develop solutions using the full potential of its composing materials. At this point there is no doubt
that the structural solution progress is directly related to an increase in materials science knowledge. These efforts in conjunction with up-to-date
modern construction techniques have led to an extensive use of composite floors in large span structures. On the other hand, the competitive trends
of the world market have long been forcing structural engineers to develop minimum weight and labour cost solutions. A direct consequence of
this new design trend is a considerable increase in problems related to unwanted floor vibrations. For this reason, the structural floors systems
become vulnerable to excessive vibrations produced by impacts such as human rhythmic activities. The main objective of this paper is to present an
analysis methodology for the evaluation of the composite floors human comfort. This procedure takes into account a more realistic loading model
developed to incorporate the dynamic effects induced by human walking. The investigated structural models were based on various composite
floors, with main spans varying from 5 to 10 m. Based on an extensive parametric study the composite floors dynamic response, in terms of peak
accelerations, was obtained and compared to the limiting values proposed by several authors and design standards. This strategy was adopted to
provide a more realistic evaluation for this type of structure when subjected to vibration due to human walking.
c 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Vibration; Composite floor; Composite floor structural dynamics; Serviceability; Human walking; Dynamic loading factor and dynamic structural design
Over the last few years the dynamic behaviour of first study containing a comprehensive evaluation of the forces
these composite floor systems has been experimentally and involved in human motion.
analytically investigated by various authors. These studies have In order to determine the dynamic behaviour of floor
used modern computational tools for structural analysis with structural systems subjected to excitations from human
the aid of finite element method. activities, various studies have tried to evaluate the magnitude
These were the main motivations for the present study that of these rhythmic loads. The following stage of this research
investigated the dynamic behaviour of composite floor systems line was the development of a loading platform, Elftman [4],
(steel-concrete) when subjected to human dynamic actions. The that enable the determination of the ground reactions to the foot
investigation was carried out based on a more realistic load forces associated to the human walk motion. The typical force
model developed to incorporate the human walking dynamic platform is made by an approximate 1 m2 steel plate supported
effects. by four small columns at the plate midsides. Load cells were
In this particular load model, the leg motion that causes installed at each of the columns to detect the magnitude of
an ascent and descend movement of the human body effective the load variation at these points. With these results in hand
mass, at each step, was considered. The dynamic load position it was possible to determine the magnitude and direction of
also changed according to the individual position and the the forces transmitted to the supporting surface, denominated
generated time function, corresponding to the human walking ground reaction forces.
excitation. Rainer et al. [5] also contributed in this investigation
The investigated structural model was based on several developing more sophisticated load platforms that recorded the
floors, with main spans varying from 5 to 10 m. The composite ground reaction forces coming from the foot forces associated
structural systems were made of an I steel profile and a to the human motion. Ebrahimpur et al. [6] developed a 14.2 m
reinforced concrete slab. The proposed computational model length 2 m wide platform designed to record the actions from
adopted the usual mesh refinement techniques present in finite a single individual, or groups of two or four individual walk
element simulations [1]. motion.
Initially, all the composite floor natural frequencies and
Another load model used to represent the walk motion forces
vibration modes were obtained. Subsequently, based on an
is expressed as a function of tests that recorded the heel impact
extensive parametric study, the floors dynamic response in
over the floor. This load type, considered as the main excitation
terms of peak accelerations was obtained and compared to
source during the human walk motion, produces a transient
the limiting values proposed by several authors and design
response, i.e. when the system is excited by an instantaneous
codes [2,3]. This strategy was used to provide a more realistic
force application. Its graphical representation was illustrated by
evaluation of walking induced vibrations in the investigated
Ohmart [7] in experiments, denominated heel drop tests, where
structural system.
the individual drops its heel over the floor after elevating it to a
The results of the present investigation indicated that in
height corresponding to its weight.
several floors, the level of the dynamic effects could induce
excessive vibrations, causing human discomfort conditions and The heel drop test was also made by Murray and
even compromising the structural system. The results also Hendrick [8] in different building types. A 0.84 kN impact force
showed that, in specific situations, the design standards could was measured by a seismograph in nine church ceremonial
produce unsafe solutions because they were based on the rooms, three slabs located at a shopping mall highest floor,
adoption of excessively simplified load models [2,3]. two balcony slabs of a hotel and one slab located at a
commercial building second floor. With these results in
2. Human-induced dynamic loads hand, the structural dynamic responses, in terms of the
force amplitudes, frequencies and damping, associated to the
Floor vibrations induced by human rhythmic activities like: investigated structural systems, could be determined.
walking, running, jumping or even aerobics consist of a very A significant contribution to this field was made in Brazil
complex problem. This is due to the fact that the dynamic by Alves [9] and Faisca [10] based on experiments made with
excitation characteristics generated during these activities are a group of volunteers acting on a concrete platform. These
directly related to the individual body adversities and to the tests enabled the development of approximated descriptions
specific way in which each human being executes a certain of the loads induced by human activities such as: jumps,
rhythmic task. All these aspects do not contribute for an easy aerobics, soccer and rock show audience responses. These tests
mathematical or physical characterization of this phenomenon. were executed over two concrete platforms, one rigid and the
Human beings have always analysed the most apparent other flexible, both of them over movable supports. With these
distinctions of the various activities they perform. However kind of support the structure stiffness could be vary, enabling
the fundamental mechanical analysis of these tasks was not an investigation of the human rhythmic load over rigid or
possible before a significant development of the mechanical flexible structures. The experimental results analysis, allied to
science. Initially the human motion received an incipient an analytical model, led to the development of load functions
attention from researchers like Borelli in 1679 [4] and the associated to synchronous and asynchronous activities that
Weber brothers in 1836 [4]. The first pioneer on this field was could be used in structural designs intended for stadiums and
Otto Fischer, a German mathematician that in 1895 made the other related structures.
1144 A.V.A. Mello et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 64 (2008) 11421151
Fig. 1. First load model. Dynamic loading function for a single person walking. Fig. 2. Second and third load models.
Table 3
Human walking characteristics [22]
Fig. 3. Human walking at the composite floor. actions associated to the time function will be correctly applied
to the structure.
In this particular load model, the finite element mesh had
to be very refined and the contact time of application of the 3.4. Fourth load model
dynamic load with the floor depends of the step distance and
The fourth representation of walking loads considered the
step frequency, see Table 3 [22].
same trends adopted in the previous model. The main difference
In this case, the following strategy was adopted: the step of this model was the incorporation of the human heel effect,
distance corresponding to the fourth harmonic with step amplifying the load actions, on this particular load model. This
frequency of 1.856 Hz is equal to 0.68 m, as presented in particular mathematical model, defined by Eqs. (3)(6), was
Tables 2 and 3 [22]. The step period is equal to 1/ f = previously proposed by Varela [23] and is also a numerical
1/1.856 Hz = 0.540 s, corresponding to the distance of approach to evaluate the floor structure reaction [24], as shown
0.68 m. This way, the modelling considered four forces to in the Fig. 4.
model one human step and each one of the loads P1, P2, P3 According to Varela [23], the proposed mathematical
and P4 were applied on the structure during 0.540/3 = 0.18 s, function, Eqs. (3)(6), used to represent the dynamic actions
corresponding to a contact time of each dynamic load, as produced by people walking on floor slabs is not a Fourier
illustrated in Fig. 3. series simply because the equation also incorporates, in its
However, the dynamic forces were not applied at the same formulation, the heel impact effect.
time. The first applied load should be P1, according to Eq. In the present investigation the adopted heel impact factor
(2), by 0.18 s, and at the end of this time period, the load P1 was 1.12 ( f mi = 1.12) but it must be emphasized that this
becomes zero and the load P2 is subsequently applied for 0.18 s. value can quite vary from person-to-person [23,24]. Fig. 5
This process occurs successively till all dynamic actions are illustrates the dynamic load function for an individual walking
applied along the structure, see Fig. 3, where it can be noticed at 7.424 Hz, based on Eqs. (3)(6).
that all the dynamic loads associated to the time function will
f mi Fm P
be correctly applied to the composite floor. t+P if 0 t < 0.04T p
0.04T
" p #
However, the dynamic forces P1 to P4 were not
C1 t 0.04T p
if 0.04T p t < 0.06T p
f mi Fm + 1
simultaneously applied. The load application begins with the
0.02T p
first step where the first load P1 is applied for 0.18 s, according F(t) = Fm if 0.06T p t < 0.15T p
nh
to Eq. (2). At the end of this time period, the load P1 becomes
X
P sen 2i f c t + 0.1T p + i if 0.15T p t < 0.90T p
P+
zero while the load P2 is subsequently applied for 0.18 s. The
i=1
process continues with the application of the other loads, P3 10 (P C ) . t 1 + P
if 0.90T p t < T p
2
to P4, according to the same procedure previously described, Tp
until the end of the first step. At this point, the load P4 from (3)
the first step is made equal to the load P1 of the second step. where:
The process continues with subsequent step applications until
all dynamic loads are applied along the entire structure length, Fm : maximum value of the Fourier series, given by Eq. (4);
as presented in Fig. 3. It can be noticed that all the dynamic f mi : heel-impact factor;
A.V.A. Mello et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 64 (2008) 11421151 1147
Fig. 5. Fourth load model. Dynamic load function for a single person walking.
Table 4
Geometrical characteristics of the beam and columns steel sections
Beams Height (mm) Flange width (mm) Top flange thickness (mm) Bottom flange thickness (mm) Web thickness (mm)
VS I 550 64 550 250 9.5 9.5 6.3
VS I 450 51 450 200 9.5 9.5 6.3
Columns Height (mm) Flange width (mm) Top flange thickness (mm) Bottom flange thickness (mm) Web thickness (mm)
Table 5
Composite floors natural frequencies
6. Dynamical analysis
6.1. Natural frequencies and mode vibrations the composite floors natural frequencies. These results also
indicated that when the floor span increases some of these
Based on the performed parametric analysis, the composite structures can become vulnerable to low forcing frequencies
floors natural frequencies were determined, as presented in and undesirable vibrations.
Table 5. The floor vibration modes with beam spans equal to
7 m (L j = 7 m see Fig. 6) are illustrated from Figs. 9 to 14.
The results depicted on these figures indicated that there was a 6.2. Peak accelerations
good agreement between the numerical value of the composite
floor fundamental frequency (L j = 7 m see Fig. 6), The present analysis proceeded with the evaluation of
f 01 = 7.42 Hz, obtained by the finite element model, and the composite floors performance in terms of vibration
those obtained from the technical literature [2], as illustrated serviceability due to human walking. The first step of this
in Table 5. procedure concerned the determination of the floor peak
Table 5 results clearly indicated that the structural systems accelerations. The peak accelerations were determined based
stiffness decreases with a span increase, reducing, as expected, on the developed finite element model (FEM). These maximum
A.V.A. Mello et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 64 (2008) 11421151 1149
Table 6
Composite floors peak accelerations at resonance
L j (m) 1st load model 2nd load 3rd load model 3rd load model 4th load model 4th load model AISC ISO 5%g
(m/s2 ) model (m/s2 ) path 1 (m/s2 ) path 2 (m/s2 ) path 1 (m/s2 ) path 2 (m/s2 ) [2] (m/s2 ) [3] (m/s2 )
5.0 0.019 0.034 0.065 0.083 0.100 0.132 0.033
5.5 0.032 0.037 0.080 0.073 0.128 0.104 0.038
6.0 0.031 0.037 0.103 0.086 0.104 0.111 0.042
6.5 0.029 0.032 0.073 0.092 0.114 0.089 0.047
7.0 0.027 0.033 0.083 0.092 0.098 0.108 0.051
7.5 0.026 0.031 0.094 0.074 0.115 0.105 0.056 0.049
8.0 0.049 0.054 0.115 0.092 0.123 0.123 0.060
8.5 0.047 0.052 0.110 0.103 0.103 0.128 0.064
9.0 0.044 0.049 0.106 0.115 0.116 0.117 0.067
9.5 0.042 0.047 0.107 0.104 0.101 0.116 0.070
10.0 0.039 0.044 0.114 0.086 0.113 0.111 0.073
7. Final remarks
Fig. 13. Mode shape associated to the fifth natural frequency: f 05 = 30.82 Hz. This paper presented an initial contribution for the
evaluation of the structural behaviour of composite floors
subjected to dynamic excitations induced by human walking.
The present investigation was carried out based on a more
realistic load model. In this particular load model, the leg
motion that cause an ascent and descend movement of the
effective mass of the human body in each passing was
considered. The position of the dynamic loading is also changed
according to the individual position and the generated time
function, corresponding to the excitation induced by people
walking, having a space and time description.
An extensive parametric analysis was made considering the
dynamic behaviour, in terms of serviceability limit states, of
several composite floors made with a composite slab system
with welded wide flange, steel beams and a 150 mm thick
concrete slab.
The composite floors dynamic response in terms of peak
accelerations was obtained and compared to the limit values
proposed by the AISC [2] and ISO [3]. The results of the present
investigation have shown that AISC [2] parameters are good
design criteria only when the first load model was considered.
However, when the position of the dynamical load was changed
Fig. 14. Mode shape associated to the sixth natural frequency: f 06 = 31.86 Hz.
according to the individual position, represented by the third
and fourth load models, the peak accelerations were higher than
The peak accelerations calculated by the AISC [2] simplified AISC [2] and ISO [3] limit values.
method are always higher than those obtained with the first The third and fourth load models incorporate a more realistic
load model. This fact indicated that the simplified method [2] load in which the position of the dynamic action is changed
produce safe values, as shown in Table 6. according to the individual position. Another important point
The peak accelerations values presented in the Table 6 have is related with the fact that the generated time function has
shown that, for all analysed composite floors, the second load a space and time description and that the fourth load model
model produced accelerations values always higher than those also considered the effect of the human heel impact. On the
related to the first load model. The results indicated that the four other hand, the AISC [2] recommendations only considered
harmonics are very important to the floors dynamic response. one harmonic applied in the middle of the main span of the
When the third and fourth load models are applied to the pedestrian footbridge, without varying the load position.
all analysed composite floors, the accelerations were higher The results obtained in this investigation have clearly shown
than those associated to the first and second load models. This the importance of further investigation based on an extensive
A.V.A. Mello et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 64 (2008) 11421151 1151
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