A short note on floor vibration management and control

Modern large span floors and light weight structural systems tend to vibrate under service loads. As a matter of fact, the effect of floor vibration might have negative impacts on daily routines of a structure ranging from a single family household to a rotating machinery in a chemical plant and even a multi-billion dollar hydro power plant. Anywhere alongside this broad spectrum, human comfort, performance of equipment and or structural serviceability may be compromised. Investigating floor vibration has a unique set of properties for which it becomes a suitable topic to apply theory of structural dynamics. This particular system could potentially be simplified enough to fit within a classic dynamics problem. A quick glance at available publications on this topic indicates that numerous approaches are convention in various parts of the world. This provides us the opportunity to familiarize with a few and match them with the topics discussed within the context of CIVL507 course. A literature review is first conducted regarding the vibration problems associated with the floors, and various techniques to minimize the impact of the vibration (e.g. rehabilitation or design state procedures) A background information will be prepared on various levels of human perception of vibration in terms of acceleration. A couple of methods will then be identified and handpicked to characterize the problem based on Single Degree of Freedom approach. Two case studies will also be provided in which the abovementioned methods are implemented (at least one method per case). The first case will be a conventional solution at the design level which result in a desired effective mass stiffness and or damping mechanism in order to remain within the desired comfort levels. The second case will simulate the response of a TMD compensated floor system in response to a harmonic excitation .Applied Science, Faculty ofCivil Engineering, Department ofUnreviewedGraduat