Vibration Analysis
RAED A. TOLAYMAT
Floor vibrations analysis is one of few structural engineer- to a single impact load. These graphs represent systems
ing topics that combine static and dynamic analyses, which with no damping, 10% and 100% damping, respectively.
makes it more interesting as well as more complicated. Depending on the method of construction, modern floors
The subject is becoming increasingly famiUar to structural possess a damping ratio in the range of 2% to 10%. As
designers as more and more hghtweight floors exhibit energy is dissipated, oscillation amplitude decays gradu-
varying degrees of vibration susceptibility. In the past, lit- ally. The rate of decay is given by (see Fig. lb)"*
erature on this problem and ways to predict and prevent
it were lacking. During the last 20 years, however, several (1)
methods have been developed to predict the susceptibility where
of floors to annoying transient and steady-state vibrations. yi = first cycle amphtude
To date, methods developed have dealt independently
with either the transient or the steady-state response of a ^2 = second cycle amphtude
floor system. The most popular methods of analysis have D — system's available damping
been: (1) Wiss and Parmelee rating factor R, (2) Modified
Reiher-Meister frequency-amplitude scale and (3) Mur-
ray's acceptability criterion.^
Prior to discussing the vahdity of these three methods,
it is beUeved that introducing a brief description of floor
[YI-Y2-...-CONSTANT
behavior under transient and steady-state conditions is
warranted. ^ (a) NO DAMPING
When a floor is impacted by a force (usually a falling
weight), a transfer of energy occurs from the faUing weight
to the floor. This energy is caused by the velocity with LU
which the weight strikes the floor. A simply supported Q
floor beam, because of its boundary conditions, tends to ID
oscillate upon the sudden gain of this energy at a fre-
quency practically equal to its lowest natural frequency. (b)10% DAMPING
Through oscillation, the beam (the floor) dissipates that
energy in the form of heat (due to friction resulting from
cyclical strain energy generated in the beam). The floor's
rate of energy dissipation per cycle of oscillation is called
damping. This damping is given for a particular floor as
a percentage of the critical damping. Critical damping is
the minimum amount of damping required to dissipate all
the energy transferred upon impact and convert it to heat
Oi (c)100X DAMPING
500
g •- (b)
* The calculated amplitude of all 96 tests converged to the maxi-
mum value after 2-5 heel-drops. The speed at which the ampUtude
S c m o V converged was a function of the system's damping and frequency.
Note the state of equal periodic deflection under equal periodic
TIME (millisecond) load is the steady-state condition described earlier in this article.
** Note, all lines running parallel to the border Hnes in the Reiher-
Meister scale are represented by A- F = constant. For example,
the Hne that separates slightly and distinctly perceptible ranges is
Fig. 2. Comparison of exact and approximate heel-drop im- given by A'F = 0.05; and the line that separates distinctly and
pact histories of available and new methods strongly perceptible ranges is given by ^* F = 0.15, etc.
* ( a) system 3
f = 10. 6 c p s
D=IO. 4/i
o
c
UJ
Q
3 (b) s y s t e m 39
f=8. 0 cps
A4=0.043'
D=4. \'/.
3=0.03q-
Q_
< f ft
\ ftl=0.020'
(c) s y s t e m 44
f=6. 7 cps
D = 2. OX
n
(S (3
LO LO
I i ! I i I ! I I i ! I M ! I
TIME ( m i l l I second)