Testing & Modeling of Vertical Vibration Propagation in a Scale Model Building. (Paperback)

In recent years floor vibrations have become a significant design consideration for engineers. The advancement of technology and building materials has increased a structure's susceptibility to floor vibrations. This is compounded by the growth of excitation sources due to air rights development, the practice of constructing buildings over existing highways and railways. The use of an accurate predictive model is therefore necessitated to ensure human comfort as well as safe operation of vibration sensitive laboratory and manufacturing equipment in these structures. In this research, a 4-story scale model building is designed and constructed for the purpose of predicting vibration levels at each floor. Mathematical models of column, beam, and slab elements are developed and combined, forming a system model. Each component of the scale model building is tested in order to validate their corresponding mathematical model. Measurements in the scale model building are then compared to predictions by the system mathematical model. All analytical models successfully represent their corresponding physical model by accurately predicting resonant amplifications and average vibration levels. Additionally, the feasibility of mitigating vibration levels more than half by tripling the slab thickness of the first floor is examined in the scale model. Finally, recommendations for the modeling of full-scale structures are presented.