Footfall-induced vibrations of floors supporting sensitive equipment

Abstract

Data are displayed showing that footfalls often constitute the predominant excitation of floors. An approach is described for obtaining vibration criteria for sensitive equipment by observing its performance in the presence of floor vibrations due to intense footfall excitation. A method is presented for estimation of the salient parameters of footfall impacts and of the corresponding floor vibrations. The parameters affecting these floor vibrations are delineatd, in order to guide appropriate design choices.