Investigation of Floor Vibrations in Buildings: Assessment and Solutions
Publication: Structures Congress 2025
ABSTRACT
As buildings evolve in design and usage, vibrations of structural floor framing (floor vibrations) have increasingly become a concern that must be addressed both in new construction and renovations. This paper explores the comprehensive assessment of the performance of structural floor framing and discusses various criteria and standards across industries that guide the evaluation process. The authors present a detailed methodology for measuring and analyzing floor vibrations, considering factors such as frequency, amplitude, human perception, and the impact on building usage, such as sensitive equipment or art exhibits. The paper also examines case studies of existing buildings with floor vibration issues, identifying common underlying sources and evaluating the effectiveness of different mitigation strategies. By addressing floor vibrations post-construction, when occupants experience discomfort or sensitive equipment is affected, this study provides structural engineers with practical tools and knowledge to diagnose and resolve these issues effectively. This approach ensures the structural and functional integrity of modern buildings, enhancing occupant satisfaction and the operational efficiency of sensitive equipment.
Get full access to this chapter
View all available purchase options and get full access to this chapter.
REFERENCES
Aalami, B.O., and Bommer, A. (2020). "Vibration Evaluation of Concrete Floors." Technical Note TN290, Post-Tensioning Institute.
Allen, D.E., and Murray, T.M. (1993). “Design Criterion for Vibrations due to Walking.” AISC Engineering Journal, 4th Qtr, 117-129.
Barrett, A.R. (2006). “Dynamic Testing of In-Situ Composite Floors and Evaluation of Vibration Serviceability Using the Finite Element Method.” Ph.D. Dissertation, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia.
Davis, D.B. (2008). “Finite Element Modeling for Prediction of Low Frequency Floor Vibrations Due to Walking.” Ph.D. Dissertation, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia.
ISO 2631-1 (1997). Mechanical vibration and shock—Evaluation of human exposure to whole body vibration—Part 1: General requirements.”
ISO 2631-2 (1989). “Evaluation of human exposure to whole-body vibration—Part 2: Continuous and shock-induced vibration in buildings.”
ISO 2631-2 (2003). “Evaluation of human exposure to whole-body vibration—Part 2: Continuous and shock-induced vibration in buildings.”
Gordon, C.G. (1991). “Generic Vibration Criteria for Vibration-Sensitive Equipment.” In Proceedings of the SPIE Conference on Optomechanical Engineering and Vibration Control, Vol. 1619, pp. 71–85.
Lenzen, K. (1966). “Vibration of Steel Joist-Concrete Slab Floors.” AISC Engineering Journal, July, 133-136.
Lindenberg, R. and Fraczek (2013). “From Old to New: Vibration Issues with Old Buildings and Their New Office Spaces”. Structures Congress 2013: Bridging Your Passion with Your Profession. 1747 – 1758
Murray, T.M., Allen, D.E., and Ungar, E.E. (1997). “Steel Design Guide Series 11: Floor Vibrations due to Human Activity.” American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), Chicago, IL.
Murray, T.M., Allen, D.E., Ungar, E.E., Davis, D.B. (2016). “Steel Design Guide Series 11: Floor Vibrations due to Human Activity, Second Edition.” American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), Chicago, IL.
Hewitt, C.M., and Murray, T.M. (2004). “Office Fit-Out and Floor Vibrations.” Modern Steel Construction. April 2004.
Smith, A.L., Hicks, S.J., and Devine, P.J. (2009). Design of Floors for Vibration: A New Approach. The Steel Construction Institute. Silwood Park, Ascot, Berkshire.
WoodWorks – Wood Products Council. U.S. Mass Timber Floor Vibration Design Guide. 2021. Accessed November 4, 2024. https://www.woodworks.org/wp-content/uploads/webinar_slides-Mass-Timber-Floor-Vibration.pdf.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
History
Published online: Apr 7, 2025
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.