This paper deals with the determination of the dynamic
characteristics of multi-panel floors, primarily to provide information
for calculating their response to human loading. It presents lessons
that have been learnt by the authors modelling various types of
floor. The paper focuses on the low damped, medium to long-span
floors typically encountered in modern offices. For these floors, the
resonant response to rhythmic loading from walking or jumping is
the prime consideration.
To determine the modal properties of a floor a finite element
representation is adopted. This paper considers three common
types of floor in order of increasing complexity. In each case there
are important factors to be considered. However, with multi-panel
floors there is one further factor which cannot always be modelled
accurately, namely the continuity between panels, and this is
described. Damping is an important characteristic, but one which
does not fit in comfortably with finite element modelling.This is
dealt with separately.
Finally the data determined from a model of a multi-panel
composite floor are used to evaluate the floor’s response to both
walking and jumping loads. Several simpler models are provided
for comparison. The calculated responses are then compared with
corresponding measurements to provide an illustration of the
range of results that can be encountered. |
