Floor Vibrations in Steel Framed Structures

Floor Vibrations in Steel Framed Structures

Introduction

The trend for longer span, lightweight structures has led to an increased need to consider the performance of floors when subjected to human induced vibrations, such as those caused by walking, rather than relying exclusively on traditional methods of frequency-governed design.

By comparing response analyses with BS and ISO defined limits for either the Response Factor or the Vibration Dose Value, it is possible to ensure that the occupant comfort of a floor will be satisfactory. Advice is also given on the design of specialist floors, such as hospital operating theatres and dance-floors.

This course comprises a set of lectures supplemented by a number of interactive worked examples to ensure that basic ideas are understood.

Course Content:

• Explain the theory of dynamic floor response.
• Understand the application to composite and non-composite steel-framed floor systems.
• Understand how to apply the checking procedure to calculate the Response Factors.
• Understand the acceptance limits within the design.

Speakers:

Andy Smith

Andy Smith, BA, MEng (Cantab), is a Senior Engineer at SCI. He is mostly involved in projects covering aspects of steel-concrete composite construction and the vibrations of structures, and regularly presents courses on both of these subjects. He is an author of SCI publication P354 - Design of Floors for Vibration: A New Approach, and leads the SCI's specialist consultancy service on floor vibrations.