Project Experience | Floor Testing
Structural floors in typical high-occupancy buildings, like a hospital or a hotel, tend to have long unsupported spans that can exhibit poor vibration behavior. When the resonant modes of the floor have frequencies near the natural walking rate of pedestrian traffic, high amplitudes of vibration could be excited. Diagnosis of a problem is usually done by taking vibration measurements to obtain the actual frequency of the system, which can be achieved through ambient, shaker, or hammer test methods. Problems can be resolved through design by structural modification, damping, or even isolation.
The partners of TVP have tackled several cases involving the examination of potential floor vibration problems. The use of sensitive equipment, for example, requires detailed knowledge regarding the vibration performance of the floor system. This performance can typically be measured through acceleration or velocity sensors.