JRC Design of Floor091203

Design of floor structures for human
induced vibrations
M. Feldmann, Ch. Heinemeyer, Chr. Butz, E. Caetano, A. Cunha, F. Galanti, A. Goldack,
O. Hechler, S. Hicks, A. Keil, M. Lukic, R. Obiala, M. Schlaich, G. Sedlacek, A. Smith, P. Waarts
Background document in support to the implementation, harmonization and

further development of the Eurocodes
Joint Report
Prepared under the JRC – ECCS cooperation agreement for the evolution of Eurocode 3
(programme of CEN / TC 250)
Editors: G. Sedlacek, Ch. Heinemeyer, Chr. Butz
EUR 24084 EN - 2009

Design of floor structures for human
induced vibrations
M. Feldmann, Ch. Heinemeyer, Chr. Butz, E. Caetano, A. Cunha, F. Galanti, A. Goldack,
O. Hechler, S. Hicks, A. Keil, M. Lukic, R. Obiala, M. Schlaich, G. Sedlacek, A. Smith, P. Waarts
Background document in support to the implementation, harmonization and

further development of the Eurocodes
Joint Report
Prepared under the JRC – ECCS cooperation agreement for the evolution of Eurocode 3
(programme of CEN / TC 250)
Editors: G. Sedlacek, Ch. Heinemeyer, Chr. Butz
EUR 24084 EN - 2009

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JRC 55118
EUR 24084 EN
ISBN 978-92-79-14094-5
ISSN 1018-5593
DOI 10.2788/4640
Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities
© European Communities, 2009
Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged
Printed in Italy
Acknowledgements
This report is based on the results of two European research projects funded by
the Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS), namely:
 Generalisation of criteria for floor vibrations for industrial, office and

public buildings and gymnastic halls – VOF prepared by ArcelorMittal,
TNO, SCI, RWTH Aachen University [1]
 Human induced vibrations of steel structures – HIVOSS prepared by

ArcelorMittal, TNO, SCI, RWTH Aachen University, CTICM, FEUP and
Schlaich Bergermann und Partner [2]
The project partners gratefully acknowledge the financial contributions of RFCS

as well as their agreement to publish the results in a “JRC-Scientific and
Technical Report” to support the maintenance, further harmonization, further
development and promotion of the Eurocodes.
Foreword
(1) The EN Eurocodes are a series of European Standards which provide a

common series of methods for calculating the mechanical strength of
elements playing a structural role in construction works, i.e. the structural
construction products.
They enable to design construction works, to check their stability and to

give the necessary dimensions to the structural construction products.
(2) They are the result of a long procedure of bringing together and
harmonizing the different design traditions in the Member States. In the
same time, the Member States keep exclusive competence and
responsibility for the levels of safety of works.
(3) Sustainability requirements for buildings often lead to structural concepts,

for which the mechanical resistance and stability of construction works is
not governing the design, but serviceability criteria can control the
dimensions. A typical example are long span lightweight floor structures,
for which the design for vibrations to avoid discomfort provides the main
design parameters.
(4) So far for floor structures the Eurocodes give only recommendations for
estimated limits for eigenfrequencies, e.g. 3 Hz or 8 Hz depending on the
construction material, or they give reference to ISO-standards as ISO/DIS
10137 and ISO 2631, which give general criteria for the perception of
vibrations and could be the basis to develop more detailed design rules for
vibrations specific to particular structures and types of excitation.
(5) This report is intended to fill this gap and to provide an easy-to-use design
guide with background information that shall help to specify comfort
requirements for occupants and to perform a design that guarantees the
specified comfort.
(6) It applies to floors in office and/or residential buildings that might be

excited by walking persons and which can affect the comfort of other
building users.
(7) This report may be considered as a supplement to EN 1990 and may also
be used as a source of support to:
- further harmonization of the design rules across different
structural materials and construction procedures,
- further development of the Eurocodes.
(8) The rules for the “Design of floor structures for human induced vibrations”
given in this report are the result of two international projects, the VOF-
project and the HIVOSS-project, both funded by the Research Fund for
Coal and Steel (RFCS), initiated and carried out by a group of experts from
RWTH Aachen University, Germany, ArcelorMittal, Luxembourg, TNO, The
Netherlands, SCI, United Kingdom, CTICM, France, FEUP Porto, Portugal
and Schlaich, Bergermann und Partner, Germany [1], [2]
(9) The agreement of RFCS and the project partners to publish this report in
the series of the “JRC-Scientific and Technical Reports” in support of the
further development of the Eurocodes is highly appreciated.
(7) The examples given in this guideline mainly covers light-weight steel
structures, where the consideration of human induced vibrations is part of
the optimization strategy for sustainable constructions. Therefore, the
publication has been carried out in the context of the JRC-ECCS-
cooperation agreement in order to support the further harmonization of
National procedures and the further evolution of the Eurocodes.
Aachen, Delft, Paris and Ispra, September 2009
Gerhard Sedlacek
ECCS-Director of Research
Frans Bijlaard
Chairman of CEN/TC 250/SC3
Jean-Armand Calgaro
Chairman of CEN/TC 250
Michel Géradin, Artur Pinto, Humberto Varum

European Laboratory for Structural Assessment, IPSC, JRC
Design of floor structures for
human induced vibrations
List of Contents
1 Objective ........................................................................................... 5
2 General procedure .............................................................................. 6
3 Description of the loading..................................................................... 7
4 Dynamic floor response ......................................................................13
5 Comfort assessment of the floor structures ............................................17
6 Development of design charts ..............................................................26
7 Guidance for the design of floors for human induced vibrations using design
charts ....................................................................................................29
7.1 Scope ..........................................................................................29
7.2 Procedure.....................................................................................29
7.3 Determination of dynamic properties of floor structures ......................30
7.4 Values for eigenfrequency and modal mass .......................................31
7.4.1 Simple calculation formulas for isotropic plates and beams.............31
7.4.2 Simple calculation methods for eigenfrequencies of orthotropic floors34
7.4.3 Natural frequencies from the self-weight approach ........................35
7.4.4 Natural frequency from the Dunkerley approach ...........................36
7.4.5 Modal mass from mode shape ....................................................37
7.4.6 Eigenfrequencies and modal mass from FEM-analysis ....................39
7.5 Values for damping ........................................................................39
7.6 Determination of the appropriate OS-RM90-value................................40
7.7 Vibration performance assessment...................................................51
8 Design examples................................................................................52
8.1 Filigree slab with ACB-composite beams (office building).....................52
8.1.1 Description of the floor .............................................................52
8.1.2 Determination of dynamic floor characteristics .............................56
8.1.3 Assessment .............................................................................58
8.2 Three storey office building .............................................................58
8.2.1 Description of the floor .............................................................58
8.2.2 Determination of dynamic floor characteristics .............................60
8.2.3 Assessment .............................................................................63
9 References ........................................................................................64
1
Table of definitions and frequently used symbols
Definitions
The definitions given here are oriented on the application of this guideline.
Damping D Damping is the energy dissipation of a vibrating

system. The total damping consists of
 material and structural damping

 damping by furniture and finishing (e.g. false
floor)
 geometrical radiation (propagation of energy
through the structure)
Modal mass Mmod In many cases, a system with n degrees of freedom

generalised mass can be reduced to a n SDOF systems with frequency:
1 K mod,i
fi 
2 M mod,i
where:
fi is the natural frequency of the i-th system
Kmod,i is the modal stiffness of the i-th system
Mmod,i is the modal mass of the i-th system
Thus, the modal mass can be interpreted to be the

mass activated in a specific mode.
The determination of the modal mass is described in

section 7.
2
Natural frequency f = Each mode of a structure has its specific dynamic
Eigenfrequency behaviour with regard to vibration mode shape and
period T [s] of a single oscillation. The frequency f is
the reciprocal of the oscillation period T (f = 1/T).
The natural frequency is the frequency of a free

decaying oscillation without continuously being driven
by an excitation source.
Each structure has as many natural frequencies and

associated mode shapes as degrees of freedom. They
are commonly sorted by the amount of energy that is
activated by the oscillation. Therefore, the first natural
frequency is that on the lowest energy level and is thus
the most likely to be activated.
The equation for the natural frequency of a single

degree of freedom system is
1 K
f 
2 M
where: K is the stiffness
M is the mass
OS-RMS90 One-Step-RMS-value of the acceleration resp. velocity

for a significant single step, that is larger than the 90%
fractile of peoples’ walking steps.
OS: One step
RMS: Root mean square = effective value of the

acceleration a resp. velocity v:
T
1 a Peak
a RMS   a(t ) dt 
2
T 0 2
where: T is the period.
3
Variables, units and symbols
a Acceleration [m/s²]
B Width [m]
D Damping ratio (% of critical damping) [-]
D1 Structural damping ratio [-]
D2 Damping ratio from furniture [-]
D3 Damping ratio from finishings [-]
(x,y) Deflection at location x,y [m]
 Deflection [m]
E Young’s modulus [kN/cm2]
f, fi Natural frequency [Hz]
fs Walking frequency [Hz]
G Body weight [kg]
K, k Stiffness [N/m]
l Length [m]
Mmod Modal mass [kg]
Mtotal Total mass [kg]
 Mass distribution per unit of length or per unit of [kg/m] or

area [kg/m²]
OS-RMS One step root mean square value of the effective [-]
velocity resp. acceleration
OS- 90 % fractile of OS-RMS values [-]

RMS90
p Distributed load (per unit of length or per unit of [kN/m] or

area) [kN/m²]
T Period (of oscillation) [s]
t Time [s]
t Thickness [m]
v Velocity [mm/s]
4
1 Objective
Sustainability requires multi-storey buildings built for flexible use concerning
space arrangement and usage. In consequence large span floor structures with a
minimum number of intermediate columns or walls are of interest.
Modern materials and construction processes, e.g. composite floor systems or

prestressed flat concrete floors with high strengths, are getting more and more
suitable to fulfil these requirements.
These slender floor structures have in common, that their design is usually not
controlled by ultimate limit states but by serviceability criteria, i.e. deflections or
vibrations.
Whereas for ultimate limit state verifications and for the determination of
deflections design codes provide sufficient rules, the calculation and assessment
of floor vibrations in the design stage has still a number of uncertainties.
These uncertainties are related to:
- a suitable design model including the effects of frequencies, damping,

displacement amplitudes, velocity and acceleration to predict the dynamic
response of the floor structure with sufficient reliability in the design stage,
- the characterisation of boundary conditions for the model,
- the shape and magnitude of the excitation,
- the judgement of the floor response in light of the type of use of the floor
and acceptance of the user.
This report gives a procedure for the determination and assessment of floor
responses to walking of pedestrians which on one side takes account of the
complexity of the mechanical vibrations problem, but on the other side leads –
by appropriate working up-to easy-to-use design charts.
5
2 General procedure
The procedure for the determination of an acceptable floor response to excitation
induced by walking persons is based on the following:
1. the characteristics of the loading by identifying the appropriate features

of the walking process by describing the load-time-history as a function of
body weight, step frequency and their statistical demographic distribution,
2. the identification of the dynamic floor response from representative
“Single degree of freedom”-models for different typologies of floors, to
which actions in the form of parameterized time-histories of step forces
are applied; these responses are given as time-histories or frequency
distributions for further evaluations,
3. the comfort assessment of the floor responses taking into account
human perception and condensation of data to a single representative
response parameter (OS-RMS-value90) which defines a certain fractile of
the distribution of responses to actions and is suitable for being
compared with response requirements depending on the type of building
and its use.
The procedure has been used to develop design diagrams, the use of which is
demonstrated by worked examples.
6
3 Description of the loading
Walking of a person differs from running, because one foot keeps continuously
contact to the ground while the other foot moves. It can be described by the
time history of walking induced contact forces.
The movement phases of a single leg, as illustrated in Figure 3-1, are the
following:
a) The right foot touches the ground with the heel. This is the starting point
of the contact forces.
b) The right leg is stretched; it transmits the full body weight.
c) Rocking: the right foot rocks while the left leg swings forward.
d) The left foot touches the ground while the right leg swings forward.
a b c d
Right leg:
Ground contact Streched, Rocking Swing
full body weight
Figure 3-1: Movement phases of legs and feet during walking

A typical velocity time history measured at a representative point of a floor
structure excited by a walking person is given in Figure 3-2.
2
v in mm/s
Original Signal
0
-2
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Time in s
Figure 3-2: Typical velocity response time history of a floor to walking loads
Due to the periodicity of the contact forces it is possible to consider the time
history of the contact force of a single step according to Figure 3-1 only and to
describe this force-time history in a normalised way.
7
Figure 3-3 gives an example for the time history of the contact forces for two
different step frequencies, where the amplitudes are normalized by relating them
to the body weight G of the person.
Contact force related to body weight (normalized force)

1.5
Step frequency
1.5 Hz
2.2 Hz
1.0
0.5
0.0
0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0
time in s
Figure 3-3: Example for the time history of the normalised contact forces for
two different step frequencies
The standard walking load of a person can then be described as a series of

consecutive steps, where each step is given by a polynomial function, as given in
Table 3-1.
8
Polynomial function for the contact force due to a single step:
F t 
 K 1t  K 2 t 2  K 3 t 3  K 4 t 4  K 5 t 5  K 6 t 6  K 7 t 7  K 8 t 8
G
Coefficient step frequency ranges
fs ≤ 1.75 Hz 1.75 < fs < 2 Hz fs ≥ 2 Hz
K1 -8 × fs + 38 24 × fs – 18 75 × fs - 120
K2 376 × fs – 844 -404 × fs + 521 -1720 × fs + 3153
K3 -2804 × fs + 4224 × fs – 6274 17055 × fs - 31936

6025
K4 6308 × fs – -29144 × fs + -94265 × fs +

16573 45468 175710
K5 1732 × fs + 109976 × fs – 298940 × fs –

13619 175808 553736
K6 -24648 × fs + -217424 × fs + -529390 × fs +

16045 353403 977335
K7 31836 × fs – 212776 × fs – 481665× fs –

33614 350259 888037
K8 -12948× fs + -81572× fs + -174265× fs +

15532 135624 321008
Table 3-1: Determination of the normalized contact forces
The load duration t s of a single footfall is given by
Ts  2.6606  1.757 f s  0.3844 f s2 .
Figure 3-4 gives an example of a standard walking load history which is

1
composed by a repetition of normalized contact forces at intervals of .
fs
9
2.5
Normalized force -
2
1.5
0.5
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
time in s
Figure 3-4: Example of a walking load function composed of normalized contact

forces
In order to obtain information on the statistical distributions of walking

frequencies f s and body weights G of persons, measurements of step
frequencies were carried out in the entrance area of the TNO building in Delft (in
total 700 persons) and the distribution of step frequencies were correlated with
the distribution of body mass, as published for Europe, assuming that step
frequencies and body masses would be statistically independent.
Figure 3-5 gives the distribution of step frequencies and body mass and Table
3-2 gives the associated cumulative distributions.
Figure 3-5: Frequency distribution of body mass and step frequency for a
population of data of 700
10
Classes of step frequency fsm Classes of masses Mn
m = 1  35 n = 1  20
Cumulative Step frequency fs Cumulative Step frequency fs

probability (Hz) probability (Hz)
0,0003 1,64 0,0000 30
0,0035 1,68 0,0002 35
0,0164 1,72 0,0011 40
0,0474 1,76 0,0043 45
0,1016 1,80 00,146 50
0,1776 1,84 0,0407 55
0,2691 1,88 0,0950 60
0,3679 1,92 0,1882 65
0,4663 1,96 0,3210 70
0,5585 2,00 0,4797 75
0,6410 2,04 0,6402 80
0,7122 2,08 0,7786 85
0,7719 2,12 0,8804 90
0,8209 2,16 0,9440 95
0,8604 2,20 0,9776 100
0,8919 2,24 0,9924 105
0,9167 2,28 0,9978 110
0,9360 2,32 0,9995 115
0,9510 2,36 0,9999 120
0,9625 2,40 1,0000 125
0,9714 2,44
0,9782 2,48
0,9834 2,52
0,9873 2,56
0,9903 2,60
0,9926 2,64
0,9944 2,68
0,9957 2,72
0,9967 2,76
0,9975 2,80
0,9981 2,84
0,9985 2,88
0,9988 2,92
0,9991 2,96
0,9993 3,00
Table 3-2: Cumulative probability distribution functions for step frequency fs.m
and body mass Mn
11
The functions for contact forces in Figure 3-3 and the distributions of step
frequency and body mass are the input data for calculating the dynamic
responses of floor structures. The 20 classes of body mass and the 35 classes of
step frequency as given in Table 3-2 were used (in total 700 combinations) to
develop design charts.
12
4 Dynamic floor response
The dynamic response of a floor structure to persons walking is controlled by the
loading characteristics, as described in Section 3, and by the structural dynamic
properties of the floor.
The dynamic properties of the floor structure relevant to the floor response are,
for each vibration mode i:
- the eigenfrequency fi ,
- the modal mass Mmod,i ,
- the damping value Di .
The various modes i are normally arrayed according to their energy contents.
The first mode (i = 1) needs the smallest energy content to be excited.
When the eigenfrequency of a mode and the frequency of steps are identical,
resonance can lead to very large response amplitudes. Resonance can also occur
for higher modes, i.e. where the multiple of the step frequency coincides with a
floor frequency.
The response amplitudes of floor structures due to walking of persons are in

general limited by the following effects:
- the mass of the floor structure. As the number of step impulses is limited
by the dimensions of the floor (walking distances), the ratio of the body
mass to the exited floor mass influences the vibration,
- the damping D that dissipates excitation energy. The damping Di consists
of the structural damping D1 , e.g. due to inner friction within the floor
structure or in connections of the floor to other structural components
such as supports, of the damping D2 from furniture and equipment and of
the damping D3 from further permanent installations and finishings.
Table 4-1 gives an overview on typical damping values as collected from various
sources of literature [6].
13
Type Damping
(% of critical damping)
Structural Damping D1
Wood 6%
Concrete 2%
Steel 1%
Composite 1%
Damping due to furniture D2
Traditional office for 1 to 3 persons 2%

with separation walls
Paperless office 0%
Open plan office. 1%
Library 1%
Houses 1%
Schools 0%
Gymnasium 0%
Damping due to finishings D3
Ceiling under the floor 1%
Free floating floor 0%
Swimming screed 1%
Total Damping D = D1 + D2 + D3
Table 4-1: Components of damping
Figure 4-1 demonstrates by means of a flow chart how floor responses in terms
of time histories or frequency spectra of velocity have been calculated for various
floor systems k, which were used for further evaluation.
14
1 Floor system with index k
2 Single mass oscillator

representative for the deck k Mk
with the structural properties
Mk, fk , Dk Ck Dk
3 Body mass Mn
and associated probability HM
distribution function HM,n
30 ... 125 kg M
4 Step frequency fs,m

Hf
and associated probability
distribution function Hf,m
f
1,6 ... 3,0 Hz
For each step frequncy fm (m=1...35)
5 Generation of load F(t)

For each body mass Mn (n=1...20)
function
700
600
500
 Fn,m(t)
400
300
200
100
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2
6 Time step analysis

M k x( t )  D k x( t )  C k x( t )  F ( t )
t
 x( t ); x( t ); x( t )
7 … 11 Determination of
HOS-RMS
OS-RMS value, associate
with joint probability of
frequency and mass
HOS-RMS = HM,n * Hf,m OS-RMS
Next step frequency
Next body mass
12 Determination of the 90%

fractile OS-RMS90
from the cumulated
probability function
Figure 4-1: Flow chart for calculation of dynamic floor responses to walking
excitations by a person with the mass M n and the frequency f m , see also Figure
5-5
15
In these calculations the excitation point is assumed to be stationary , i.e. the
walking path is not taken into consideration. In general, the location of the
stationary excitation and hence the location of the response are selected where
the largest vibration amplitudes are expected (for regular floors it is usually the
middle of the floor span).
Apart from excitation by the regular walking also the excitation from single
impacts, e.g. from heel drop may occur that leads to transient vibrations. This
report only refers to excitation from regular walking because experience shows
that for floor structures with lowest eigenfrequency fs  7 Hz walking is the
relevant excitation type, whereas heel drop is only relevant for fundamental
eigenfrequencies fs > 7 Hz.
In general, the time response of a floor system to regular excitation by walking

take the form of one of the plots given in Figure 4-2.
acceleration acceleration
time time
a) b)
Figure 4-2: Possible envelopes of dynamic responses of a floor to regular
excitation a) resonant response, b) transient response
If the excitation frequency (or higher harmonics of the excitation) is similar to an

eigenfrequency of the floor, the response takes the form as shown in Figure 4-2
a): a gradually increasing of the response envelope until a steady-state level.
This response is known as either resonant response or steady state response.
This kind of response can occur for floors with a fundamental natural frequency
inferior to 9-10 Hz.
If the excitation frequency is significantly lower than the natural frequency of the
floor, the response envelope shown in Figure 4-2 b) is typical, known as
transient response. In this case, the floor structure responds to the excitation as
if it is a series of impulses with the vibration due to one foot step dying away
before the next step impulse.
16
5 Comfort assessment of the floor structures
The purpose of the comfort assessment of the floor structures is a design, by

that vibrations are so small, that adequate comfort of the users is obtained.
This comfort assessment implies the use of a single response parameter that
reflects both, the comfort perception of users and the dynamic response of the
floor structure.
The definition of such a parameter requires various assumptions:
1. a weighting of the frequencies obtained from the response of the floor

structure to take the frequency dependence of human perception into
account. In a similar way to human hearing, the human perception of
vibration varies with the frequency.
The weighting function used applies to the response in terms of velocity,

see Figure 5-1:
B(f) 1 1 v 0  1,0 mm/s

B(f) 
1.2 v0 1( f ) 2 f 0  5,6 Hz
f0
1  
X B (f)  B(f)  X(f)
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0 2 4 6 8 10
f in Hz
Figure 5-1: Weighting function for the spectrum of vibration velocities
The weighting function achieves that the weighted response is

dimensionless.
2. Use of RMS-values (Root mean square values) as effective response

values by evaluation of a time window Ts :
17
t Ts
x B2 t dt
1
RMS n ,m  
Ts t
3. Definition of the time window T = Ts. If Ts is too long, the results are
smeared, if Ts is too short, the results are arbitrarily.
The well-proven definition of the time window Ts is the time interval of

standard contact force for a single step according to Figure 3-3, see
Figure 5-2.
2
v in mm/s
Original Signal
0
-2
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
2
v in mm/s
RMS = 0.56 mm/s

0
-2
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
time in s
Figure 5-2: Selection of the time window Ts for the RMS-value of the
weighted velocity response
This definition leads to the “one step-root mean square value”, so called
OS-RMS-value, which is independent on the step frequency and duration
of time interval:
1 t  Ts 2
OS  RMSn , m   x B t dt
Ts t
Figure 5-3 gives as an example for a floor structure with the dynamic
properties f = 2.8 Hz, Mmod = 20000 kg, D = 3% the OS-RMS-value as a
function of the step frequency and of the body mass.
18
Figure 5-3: Example for OS-RMS-values as a function of step frequency
and body mass
The results in Figure 5-3 do however not yet consider effects of the
frequency distributions of the step frequency fs and of the body mass G.
They may be agglomerated to a cumulative frequency distribution, see

Figure 5-4.
4. Accounting for the frequency distribution Hfm of the step frequency fs and
the body mass G.
The classes of OS-RMS-values HOS-RMS in Figure 5-3, are multiplied with

the cumulative probability distributions Hfm. In conclusion a cumulative
distribution of OS-RMS-values is obtained according to Figure 5-4, that
also contains the results.
19
f = 2,8 Hz / M = 20 000 kg / D = 3 %
1
90%
0.8
accumulated frequency
0.6
0.4
distribution
With accounting for demographic frequency occurence

0.2 Without accounting for demographic frequency occurence
OS-RMS90
0
0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28
OS-RMS
Figure 5-4: Cumulative frequency distribution of OS-RMS-values with and
without taking the frequency distribution Hfm into account
5. Definition of a representative OS-RMS-value to obtain the desired reliability.

This representative value is defined as the 90 %-fractile of OS-RMS-values
from the cumulative frequency distribution, as indicated in Figure 5-4, which
is denoted as OS-RMS90.
Figure 5-5 gives an overview of the various steps to obtain the OS-RMS90 values
by means of a flow chart.
20
6 Time step analysis
M k x( t )  D k x( t )  C k x( t )  F( t )
t
 x( t ); x( t ); x( t )
7 Transformation from t
time to frequency domain

(FFT) ↓
x( t )  X ( f ) f
8 Frequency weighting
according to perception
 1 1
XB(f )   X ( f ) f
v 0 1  ( f0 / f )2
v 0  1,0 mm / s ; f 0  5,6 Hz f
9 Transformation into time

domain (iFFT)
↓ f
X B ( t )  x B ( f ) t
10 Determination of the
effective value for the
duration Ts of a single step OS-RMS
(OS-RMS-value) and and
allocation to a OS-RMS-
t
class
t Ts
 x
1
OS  RMS n ,m  ( t ) dt
2
B
Ts t
HOS-RMS
11 Improvement of the
distribution function
HOS-RMS = HM,n * Hf,m
OS-RMS
Next step frequency
Next body mass
12 Determination of the 90% 90%

fractile OS-RMS90
from the accumulated OS-RMS90
frequency distribution
Figure 5-5: Flow chart for the evaluation of dynamic floor-response to walking
excitations by a person with the mass Mn and the frequency fm to obtain the OS-
RMSn,m values and their distribution
21
The limits for the OS-RMS90-values for comfort are based on various standards for
standardizing human perception [6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11].
In general, the perception and the individual judgement, whether vibrations are
disturbing or not (discomfort), are based on the same criteria but can lead to
different limits, as certain persons can detect vibrations without being
discomforted by them.
The governing parameters are e.g.:
 momentary activity of the user (manual work or sleeping),

 age and state of health of the user,
 posture of the user (sitting, standing, laying down), see Figure 5-6
 Relation between the user and the source of excitation (are vibrations
expected or not),
 Frequency and amplitude of vibration (as taken into account by the
weighting function).
x
Supporting
surface
Supporting
surface
x
Supporting
surface y
Figure 5-6: Directions for vibrations defined in ISO 10137 [6]
22
Figure 5-7 gives examples for curves of same perception for z-axis vibration
( Wb curve) and x-and y-axis vibrations ( Wd curve); e.g. according to the Wb
curve a sine wave of 8 Hz is equivalent to a sine wave with 2.5 Hz or 32 Hz with
double amplitude.
1 1
Weighting factor
Weighting factor
0.1 0.1
1 10 100 1 10 100
Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz)
Wb Weighting Wd Weighting
Figure 5-7: Wb and Wd -weighting curves
These parameters can be allocated to various classes of perception defined by

lower and upper threshold values for the OS-RMS90-values, that are suitable for
being associated to certain typical usages of floors, see
Table 5-1.
23
OS-RMS90 Usage of the floor structure
Schools, training centers
Industrial Workshops
Residential buildings
Hospitals, surgeries
Residential building
Office buildings
Sports facilities
Senior citizens’
Meeting rooms
Critical areas
Upper limit
Lower limit
Class
Hotels
A 0.0 0.1
B 0.1 0.2
C 0.2 0.8
D 0.8 3.2
E 3.2 12.8
F 12.8 51.2
Recommended
Critical
Not recommended
Table 5-1: Allocation of classes of perception A to F to threshold values of OS-

RMS90-values and relation of occupancies of floors to comfort limits
Table 5-2 gives the background to Table 5-2 from limits specified in ISO 10137
[6].
24
Usage Time Multiplying OS-RMS90
Factor equivalent
Critical working areas (e.g. hospitals Day 1 0.1

operating-theatres, precision
laboratories, etc.)
Night 1 0.1
Residential (e.g. flats, homes, hospitals) Day 2 to 4 0.2 to 0.4
Night 1.4 0.14
Quiet office, open plan Day 2 0.2
Night 2 0.2
General office (e.g. schools, offices) Day 4 0.4
Night 4 0.4
Workshops Day 8 0.8
Night 8 0.8
Table 5-2: Vibration limits specified in ISO 10137 [6] for continuous vibration
As it depends on the agreement between designer and client to define the

serviceability limits of comfort for floor structures, the allocation of perception
classes to comfort classes for various occupancies (Table 5-1) has the character
of recommendations.
25
6 Development of design charts
The procedure described in sections 2 to 5 may be used as assumed in this
report to calculate for other excitation mechanisms, e.g. for heel drop, the
structural response and the associated OS-RMS90-values. But it has been used for
the particular excitation by walking persons to develop design charts, which give
a relationship between
- the modal mass Mmod of the floor structure [kg],

- the eigenfrequency fi of the floor structure [Hz],
- the OS-RMS90-values and their association to perception classes A to F
all for a given damping ratio D.
Figure 6-1 gives an example for such a design diagram for a damping ratio of
3 %.
Each point in this design chart is based on the statistical evaluation of 700
combination functions of step frequency and body mass.
26
Classification based
Klassifizierung bei on
eineraDämpfung
damping ratio of 3%
von 3%
20 10 1.61.4 0.1
3.2 2.6 0 .7
0. 6 0.4
19 9 5 4 2.8 1.2 1
11 7 2 1.8 0. 5
8 2.2 0. 8 0.2
18 2.4
3 0.3
6
17
16
15
12
13
10
9 5 4
3.2 2.6
2.8
1.6 1.4 0.7 0.6 0.4
0.1
A
7 2 1.8 1.2 0.5
17 11 1 0.2
8 2.2 0.8
14 2 .4
3 0.3
21 6
13 25
12
12 0.1
1137
29
13
10
9
7
5 4
3.2 2.6
2.8
1.6
2 1.8
1.4
1.2 1
0 .7 0.6
0.5
0.4 B
17 11 0.2
10 8
2.2 0.8
33 2.4 0.3
45
49 41 3
9 21 6
25 0.1
8
12
C
7,1 Hz 13
10 1.6 0.70.6 0 .4 0.2 0.1
3.2 2.6 1.4 0.5 0.3
7 5 4 1
37 9 1.2 0.2
2.8
Hz
in inHz
116 2 0.8
29 11 7 1.8
17
156136 8
6
D
2.2
der Decke
56 33 2.4
76 0.4
96 45 3 0.3
41
49
of floor
5 21 6 0.2
25 0.70.6 0.5
1 0 .8 0.4 0.3
216196 1.61.4 1.2
Eigenfrequenz
0.5 0.3
4
276
236
256 176 12
E 2.6
0.6
Eigen frequency
0.4
F 13
10
4 2.2
3.2
2 .8 2
1.8
0.8 0.6
0.7
0.50. 4 0.3
5 0 .3
0.2
2.4
3 1
0.7
9 0.5 0.4
0.3
3 1 .41.2
37 0.6
196
7 1.6 0. 8 0.7 0. 0.4
5
216
1 0.6
27 6 116 11 8 2 .6 21.8
2.8 22.4
.2 1.2
1.4
0.8
1
316 6 3.2 1.6
356 29 17 1.8
2 1.2
1.4
456 4 3
2.6 2.2 1.6
79
696
856 6 5 36 476 336 5
836
876
776756 616
676
576 416 296
816736
716 59 6496
636 396 2.8
2.4
2 656 436
556
516 376 136 1.8
3.2 2
156 1.6
3 2.2 1.4
33 12 2.6 1.8 1.2
7 2.4 2 1.6
256236 21 4
2.8 1.4 1
56 10 1 .2 0. 8
98 6 2.2 1.8 1
13 3.2 0.80.7 0.6
0.5
45 1.6
1.4 0.4
41 1.2 0.6
76 5
3 2.6 0.5
25 2 1
49 0.7
96 2.4
0.8
0.4 0.3
1
100 200 500 1000 2 000 5000 10000 20000 50000 100000
17220 kg
Modale Masse der Decke in kg
Modal mass of floor in kg
Figure 6-1: Example of a design chart for the vibration assessment of floor
structures for a damping ratio D = 3 %
27
The design procedure based on these design charts provides the following steps,
see Figure 6-2:
1. Determination of the basic floor characteristics (natural frequency, modal

mass, damping) for input,
2. Determination of the OS-RMS90-value (90 % one-step RMS-value) from the
design chart, which characterizes the floor response to walking,
3. Compare the OS-RMS90-value with the recommended or required limits for
the floor occupancy.
Determine dynamic floor

characteristics:
Natural Frequency
Modal Mass
Damping
Read off OS-RMS90 value
Determine and verify

floor class
Figure 6-2: Design procedure using the proposed design charts
If the floor response is characterized by more than one natural frequency, the
OS-RMS90-value should be determined as a combination of OS-RMS90-values
obtained for each mode of vibration i:
OS  RMS 90   OS  RMS 

i
2
90 i
28
7 Guidance for the design of floors for human
induced vibrations using design charts
7.1 Scope
This guidance provides a simplified method for determining and verifying floor
design for vibrations due to walking developed with the procedure given in
Section 2 to 6.
The guidance focuses on recommendations for the acceptance of vibration of

floors which are caused by people during normal use. Human induced vibrations
from rhythmic movements as dancing, gymnastic activities, jumping, machine
induced vibrations or vibrations due to traffic etc. are not covered by this
guidance.
The use of the guidance should be restricted to floors in buildings; it is not

applicable to pedestrian bridges or other structures not comparable with floors.
The guidance focuses on the prediction and evaluation of vibration at the design
level.
7.2 Procedure
The procedure used in this guidance needs the determination of the following
values:
1. Dynamic properties of the floor structure:

- eigenfrequency,
- modal mass,
- damping.
The dynamic properties should include a realistic assumption of the

mechanical behaviour at the level of the vibration amplitudes expected
(elastic behaviour), of the permanent mass and of the quasi permanent
part of the mass of variable loads.
In case of very light floor structures also the mass from persons should
be included in the floor mass.
2. The appropriate OS-RMS90-value.
29
3. The relevant occupancy class or classes of the floor.
4. The requirement for comfort assessment.
7.3 Determination of dynamic properties of floor

structures
In general, the method for the determination of dynamic properties of floor

structures should not be disproportionately more refined than the method for the
vibration limit state assessment, which is basically a hand calculation method.
Hence, this method is part of the package agreed between the designer and the
client in the design stage.
The hand calculation method for the determination of dynamic properties of

floor-structures assumes that the dynamic response of the floor can be
represented by a single degree of freedom system based on the fundamental
eigenfrequency.
The eigenfrequency, modal mass and damping of this system can be obtained by
- calculation on the basis of the project documents or by

- measurements carried out at floor-structures which have been built and
are used in a similar way as those projected and are suitable to be used
as prototypes.
For the calculation of the stiffness of the structure and of the connections the
initial elastic stiffness should be used, e.g. for concrete the dynamic modulus of
elasticity should be considered to be 10 % larger than the static tangent modules
Ecm.
For calculation of the masses on the basis of project documents experienced

values for the quasi permanent part of imposed loads for residential and office
buildings are 10 % to 20 % of the mass of the characteristic values. For light-
weight floors the mass of one person with a minimum mass of 30 kg is
recommended to be added to the mass of the structure.
30
7.4 Values for eigenfrequency and modal mass
7.4.1 Simple calculation formulas for isotropic plates and

beams
Table 7-1 gives hand formulas for the determination of the first natural
frequency and the modal mass of isotropic plates for different supporting
conditions. For the application of this table it is assumed that all four edges of
the plate are linearly supported (no deflection of edges).
Table 7-2 gives hand formulas for beams for various support conditions.
Supporting Conditions: Frequency ; Modal Mass
 E t3
f  ; M mod    M tot
clamped hinged L2 12   (1   2 )

9.00
8.00
7.00   1.57  ( 1  2 )
6.00
5.00
B 4.00
3.00
2.00
1.00
0.00
L 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 2.0
Ratio  = L/B
 ≈ 0.,25 for all 

16.00
14.00
  1 . 57 1  2 . 5  2  5 . 14  4
12.00
10.00
8.00
B
6.00
4.00
2.00
0.00
L 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 2.0
Ratio  = L/B
 ≈ 0.20 for all 
Table 7-1: Natural frequencies and modal mass for isotropic plates
31
 E t3
f  ; M mod    M tot

14.00
12.00
  1 . 57 5 . 14  2 . 92  2  2 . 44  4
10.00
8.00
B 6.00
4.00
2.00
0.00
L 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 2.0
Ratio  = L/B
 ≈ 0.18 for all 

12.00
  1 . 57 1  2 . 33  2  2 . 44  4
10.00
8.00
6.00
B
4.00
2.00
0.00
L 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 2.0
Ratio  = L/B
 ≈ 0.22 for all 

12.00   1 . 57 2 . 44  2 . 72  2  2 . 44  4
10.00
8.00
6.00
B
4.00
2.00
0.00
L 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 2.0
Ratio  = L/B
 ≈ 0.21 for all 
Table 7-1 (continued): Natural frequencies and modal mass for isotropic
plates
32
 E t3
f  ; M mod    M tot

18.00
16.00   1 . 57 5 . 14  3 . 13  2  5 . 14  4
14.00
12.00
10.00
B 8.00
6.00
4.00
2.00
0.00
L 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 2.0
Ratio  = L/B
 ≈ 0.17 for all 
E Young’s Modulus in N/m²

t Thickness of Plate in m
 mass of floor including finishing and
furniture in kg/m²
 Poisson ratio
Mtot Total mass of floor including finishings and
representative variable loading in kg
Table 7-1 (continued): Natural frequencies and modal mass for isotropic plates
33
Supporting Conditions Natural Modal Mass
Frequency
4 3EI
f 
 0.37 l 4 M mod  0,41  l
l
2 3EI
f 
 0.2 l 4 M mod  0,45  l
l
2 3EI
f 
 0.49 l 4 M mod  0,5  l
l
1 3EI
f 
2 0.24l 4 M mod  0,64  l
l
Table 7-2: Natural frequencies and modal mass for beams
7.4.2 Simple calculation methods for eigenfrequencies of

orthotropic floors
Orthotropic floors as e.g. composite floors with beams in the longitudinal
direction and a concrete plate in the transverse direction, see Figure 7-1, have

different stiffness in length and width EI y  EI x
b
y
l
x
z
Figure 7-1: Dimensions and axis of an orthotropic plate
The first natural frequency of the orthotropic plate being simply supported at all
four edges can be determined from
34
 EI y   b  2  b  4  EI x
f1  1  2     
2  l4   l   l   EI y
where:
 is the mass per m² in kg/m²,
 is the length of the floor in m (in x-direction),

b is the width of the floor in m (in y-direction),
E is the Young’s Modulus in N/m²,
Ix is the moment of inertia for bending about the x-axis in m4,
Iy is the moment of inertia for bending about the y-axis in m4.
7.4.3 Natural frequencies from the self-weight approach
The self-weight approach is a very practical approximation in cases where the

maximum deflection  max due to self-weight loads has been determined, e.g. by
finite element calculation.
The natural frequency may be obtained from
1 K 1 4g 18
f   
2 M 2 3 max  max mm
where the following assumptions have been made:
M g
K 3
4  max
where:
M is the total mass of the vibrating system,

g  9.81 sm2 is gravity and
3
4  max is the average deflection.
35
7.4.4 Natural frequency from the Dunkerley approach
The Dunkerley approach is an approximation for the case that the relevant mode
shape is complex and can be considered as a superposition of simple modes, for
which the natural frequencies can be determined, e.g. according to section 7.4.1
and 7.4.2.
Figure 7-2 gives an example for a composite floor with two simply supported
beams and a concrete plate without stiff supports.
Initial System:
Mode of concrete slab:
Mode of composite beam:
Figure 7-2: Example for mode shape decomposition
The expected mode shape may be divided into a beam mode with the frequency
f1 for the composite beam and a plate mode with the frequency f2 for the concrete
slab.
The natural frequency accounting for the interaction of the beam mode and the
plate mode would be
1 1 1
 2  2
f 2
f1 f2
36
7.4.5 Modal mass from mode shape
Where an approximation of the mode shape by a normalized function   x, y  with
  x, y  max  1,0 is available, e.g. from calculation of deflection due to a
distribution of mass forces, see Figure 7-3, the modal mass may be obtained
from:
M mod  μ  δ 2(x,y) dF
F
where:
 is the distribution of mass
(x,y) is the vertical deflection at location x, y
Expected mode shape:
Application of loads:
Figure 7-3: Example for the application of mass load distributions to obtain an
approximation of mode shape
In case of FEM calculations the modal mass results from:

M mod  δ
Nodes i
i
2
 dM i
where:
i is the vertical deflection at node i (normalised to the maximum deflection)
dMi is the mass attributed to the node i of the floor.
Examples for the use of these approximations, that in the case of exact solution
for the mode shape give the exact modal mass, are given in Table 7-3.
37
Example Approximation of mode shape Mass Modal mass
distribution
x y M total M mod     2  x, y dF 
1
Ly   x, y   sin sin ;   x, y  max  1,0 
x y x  y
M total 2  x 
 
2 y M

 x y ly lx   x    y dx dy  4total
sin   sin
Lx  
Ly  Lx
2 Ly 1. 0  y 
lx l
and l y  x  y  l y 
M total M mod     2  x, y dF 
2 2 x y
x y M total x
 , x / 2
 x   y 
2    sin 2  dx dy 
x y   sin
 x, y   sin  sin ;   x, y  max  1,0  2
Lx  
x y  x   y
Ly >> Lx  x , y   x / 2
lx l  x   
 y  ly  x M
 dx dy   total 2   x 
2.    sin
2
 
2 2  x  4  y 
x
  x, y   sin 1,0   x, y  max  1,0
x
3 Ly   x, y  
x x  y y
sin sin sin ;   x, y  max  1,0 
M total M mod     2  x, y dF 
Lx  x  y x y 2
M  x x  y y 
where:
x = deflection of the beam
 total
 x y     x   y  dx dy

lx l y 
sin  sin
 
Plate and beams simply y = deflection of the slab  x   y
2 2
8 x  y 
supported
assuming stiff supports by
 M total   2 
 2  2 
2
the beams  x  0
  x  y
Table 7-3: Examples for the determination of modal mass by hand calculation
38
7.4.6 Eigenfrequencies and modal mass from FEM-analysis
Various FEM-programs can perform dynamic calculations and offer tools for the
determination of natural frequencies. Many programs also calculate the modal
mass automatically in the frequency analysis.
If FEM is applied for determining the dynamic properties for vibration, it should
be considered that the FEM-model for this purpose may differ significantly from
that used for ultimate limit state verification as only small deflections in the
elastic range are expected.
A typical example is the selection of boundary conditions in vibration analysis

compared with that for ULS design. A connection which is assumed to be hinged
in ULS may be assumed to provide a full moment connection in the vibration
analysis (due to initial stiffness).
7.5 Values for damping

Independently of the way of determining the natural frequency and modal mass,
damping values for vibration systems can be determined using Table 7-4 for
different construction materials, furniture and finishing in the condition of use.
The system damping is obtained by summing up the appropriate values for D1 to

D3.
39
Type Damping
(% of critical damping)
Structural Damping D1
Wood 6%
Concrete 2%
Steel 1%
Composite 1%
Damping due to furniture D2
Traditional office for 1 to 3 persons with 2%

separation walls
Paperless office 0%
Open plan office 1%
Library 1%
Houses 1%
Schools 0%
Gymnastic 0%
Damping due to finishings D3
Ceiling under the floor 1%
Free floating floor 0%
Swimming screed 1%
Total Damping D = D1 + D2 + D3
Table 7-4: Determination of damping
7.6 Determination of the appropriate OS-RM90-value
When frequency and modal mass are determined, the OS-RMS90-value can be
obtained with the design charts given in Figure 7-4 to Figure 7-12. The
relevant diagram needs to be selected according to the damping characteristics
of the floor.
40
The diagrams also contain an allocation of OS-RMS90 values to the floor classes.
In case various natural frequencies are relevant, the total (combined) OS-RMS90-
value may be determined from
OS  RMS 90   OS  RMS 

2
90 i
i
41
Classification based on a damping ratio of 1%
20 12
13 2.6 1.41.2 0.7
17 7 6 4 2.4 0.5
19 11
8
5 2.2 1.8 0.6
2 0.4 0.3 0.2
18 21 1 0.8 0.1
10 9 2.8 1.6
17
16 29
15 25
17
1312
8
7 6 4
3.2
3
2.4 1.8 1.41.2
2.6
2.2
0.7
0.6
0.5
A
11 5 2 0.4 0.2
1 0.8 0.3 0.1
14 21
41 33 2.8
37 109 1.6
13 45
49
3.2
3 0.1
12
11 56
29
25
17
1312
11
8
7 6
5
4 2.6
2.4
2.2
2
1.8
1.41.2 0.7 0.5
0.6 0.4
0.3
0.2
B
76
21 1 0.8
10 0.1
41 33 2.8
10
9 37 9 1.6
96 45
49 0.2
8 29
3.2
3
0.7 0.5
C 0.3
0.1
0.4
12
13 7 6 1.41.2 0.2
4 2.62.4 0.6
7 8 1.8 1 0.8
96 17 0.3 0.2
56 25 2.2 2 0.4
11 5 0.5
176 0.3
76 0.7 0.6
276
256 216
236 1.6 0.4
Eigenfrequency of the floor (Hz)
6 21
196156
136
116
41
33
10
2.8
D
1.4
1.2 1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.5
0.3
0.7 0.3 0.2

5 9
37 33.2
0.5
45 2.61.82.22
2.4 0.8 0.4
0.6
0.3
1 0.7 0.5 0.4
196 49 1.6
216 4 1.2
4
376 316
396
416
336 236
356276 256
296
29
E 7
6
5
2.8
1.4
1.8 1.2
1
0.8
0.7
0.8 0.6
0.7
12 8 2 1.6 0.6
13 3 2.42.2
2.6
1.4 1 0.80.70.6 0.5 0.4
3.2
0.5 0.4 0.3
1.2 0.6
0.3
3
96
F 17
25
11
1.8
0.7
0.8
1 0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
56 1.6 1.4 0.6 0.4

4 2.8 2 0.7 0.5
2.2 0.8
2.4 1.2 1 0.6
0.7
32.6
3.2 1.8 1.61.4 1.2 0.8 1
256 9
10 6 5 2
21 7 2.8 2.2
2.4 1.8 1.4
1.6
296 4 2.6
3 2
476 376 76 8 3.2 2.2
496 336 196 2.82.4
2.6
756
876 596 456396 316 216
736636 5 3
956796
936776 616 576
856676 176 12 6 4 3.2
916896 436 356
536 33
2
836
816
716 556 13 11 9 7
656 516 416
696
10 8 5 4
41
37 17 6 3.2
3
276 2.4
5 4 2.8
2.6 2.2
116 29 7 3.23
2.4 21.8
2.2 1.6
1.4
2.8
2.6 1.2
236 156 45 9 6 2 1.8
1.6 1
12
11 4 1.4 0.8
25 3.2 3 2.4
2.2 1.21 0.7
8 0.8 0.6
136 1.4 0.7 0.5 0.4
1.81.6
49 1.2
5 1 0.6
10 2.82.6 0.3
21 0.4
2 0.8
0.5
1
100 200 500 1000 2000 5000 10000 20000 50000 100000
Modal mass of the floor (kg)

Figure 7-4: OS-RMS90 for 1 % damping
42
20 11 10 8 4
9 5
3.2
3
2.8 1.81.6 1 0.7 0.5 0.2
19 7 2.42.2 1.4
13 1.2 0.6
18 12 6 2 0.4
A
17 17 0.3
2.6 0.8 0.1
1621
1110 8 4 3.22.8 1.6 1 0.7
15 9 5 3 1.8 0.5 0.2
7 1.4
13 2.42.2 0.6
14 12 6 2 1.2 0.4
13 33 0.3 0.1
29 25 17
2.6
12
11 4137
21
1110 8
9 5
4
3.2
3
2.8 1.6
1.8
1
0.8
0.7
0.5
0.2
B
7 1.4
2.4 0.6
13 2.2
10 12 6 2 1.2 0.4
45 0.1
5649
0.3
9
C
33 25 17
29 2.6 0.8
0.2 0.1
8
21
0.7
11 10 8 4 1.6 1 0.5 0.1
76 3.2 2.8 1.8 0.6 0.4 0.3
7 0.2
4137 9 5 3 1.4
136 1.2 0.2
7 2.4
196 116 2.2 2 0.3
13
6 156 12 6 0.5 0.4

176 45 0.8
5
96 56
49
D 0.7
0.6 0.2
1 0.3
2.6 1.6 0.50.4 0.3
33 17 1.8 1.4 0.8 0.70.6
29 1.2
25 0.4
276216
336296
4 356316 196
236
256 176
E 4 2.8
3.23
2.42.2
2 1
0.8 0.7
0.6
0.50.4
0.5
21 8
11 5 0.3
10
1.6 1.4 1.2 0.60.5 0.4
0.3 0.2
0.7
3 76
F 9
7
1.8
2.6
1
0.8
0.60.5
0.4 0.3
4137 0.7 0.4
6 2 0.5
2.2 1.2 1 0.8 0.6
2.83 2.4
3.2 1.4
1.6 0.7
136 13 12 4 1.8
2 1.2 10.8
1.4
2.6 2.2 1.6
376 5 2.4 1.8
2.8
356 236 3
3.2 2
396
516 416
2.62.2
896
916
676596
556
616
576456 336 216 4 2.4
856
836736 536
696656
636 476 256
296 116 8 7 6
2 876 756
776
816 496436 2.8
796
716 3
45
17 10 9 3.2 2.62.4
11 2.2
276 5
316 4
2.8 2 1.8
156 49 32.6 2.4 1.6
1.4
3.2 2.2 1.8 1.2 1
56 2 1.61.4
6 2.82.4 1.2 1 0.8
1.8 0.8
0.7 0.5 0.6
196 96 7 2.62.2 1.6 1.4 0.4
25 3 0.6
1
21 12
33 29 0.5
2 1.2 0.4
13 5 0.8 0.3
8 4 0.7
1
100 200 500 1000 2000 5000 10000 20000 50000 100000

43
20 10 1.61.4 0.1
3.2 2.6 0.70.6 0.4
19 9 5 4 2.8 1.2 1
11 7 2 1.8 0.5
8 2.2 0.8 0.2
18 2.4
3 0.3
6
17
16
15
12
13
10
9 5 4
3.2 2.6
2.8
1.6 1.4 0.7 0.6 0.4
0.1
A
7 2 1.8 1.2 0.5
17 11 1 0.2
14 8 2.2 0.8
2.4 0.3
21 3
13 25 6
12
12 0.1
11 37
29
13
10
9
11 7
5 4
3.2 2.6
2.8
2
1.6
1.4
1.2 1
0.7 0.6
0.5
0.4 B
17 1.8 0.2
10 8
2.2 0.8
33 2.4 0.3
45
49 41 3
9 21 6
25 0.1
8
12
13
C
0.2 0.1
10 1.6 1.4 0.7 0.6 0.4
3.2 2.6 0.5 0.3
7 5 4 1
37 9 2.8 1.2 0.2
116 2 0.8
29 11 7 1.8
136 17 8
6
156
96
76
56
45
41
33
3
2.4 D
2.2
0.4
0.3
49
5 21 6 0.2
25 0.70.6 0.5
1 0.8 0.4 0.3
216
196 1.61.4 1.2
0.5 0.3
4
276
236
256 176 12
E 2.6 0.6
0.4
F 13
10
4
3.2
2.8
2.2
2
1.8
0.8 0.6
0.7
0.50.4
0.3
0.3
5 0.2
2.4
3 1
0.7
9 0.5 0.4 0.3
3 1.41.2
37 0.6
196
7 1.6 0.8 0.7 0.50.4
216
1 0.6
276 116 11 8 2.6 21.8
2.8 2.2 1.2
1.4 0.8
1
316 6 3.2 2.4 1.6
356 29 17 1.8
2 1.2
1.4
4 3
456 2.6 2.2 1.6
876
796
696 576
856
836
776756 536 476
616
676 416336296
5
816
736
716 596 496
636 396 2.8
2.4
2 656 436
556
516 376 136 1.8
3.2 2
156 1.6
3 2.2 1.4
33 12 2.6 1.8
7 2.4 2 1.6 1.2
256236 21 10
4
2.8 1.4 1
56 1.2 0.8
98 6 2.2 1.8 1
13 3.2 0.80.7 0.60.5
45 1.6
1.4 0.4
76 41 1.2 0.6
5
3 2.6 0.5
25 2 1
49 0.7
96 2.4
0.8
0.4 0.3
1
100 200 500 1000 2000 5000 10000 20000 50000 100000

44
20
2.6 2 1.6 1.2
8 7 4 2.4 1 0.60.5
19 9 6 5 3.2 2.2 0.80.7 0.4
18 1.8 1.4 0.3 0.2
3
17 12 2.8 0.1
11
13
A
16 10
7 2.6 2 1.6 1.21
15 17 98 5
4 2.4 0.6 0.5
6 3.2 2.2 0.4
0.80.7
14 1.8 1.4 0.3 0.2
21 3
13 12 0.1
2.8
11
12 13
10
11
17 98
7
6 5
4
2.6 2 1.6
3.2
2.4
1.2 1 0.6
0.5
B
2.2 0.80.7 0.4
10 0.2
1.8 1.4 0.3
29
37 25 0.1
41 33 3
9 21
1211
8 49
45
13
10
2.8
C
0.1
2 0.2
2.6 1.6 1.21 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.1
7 87 4 0.7
9 2.4 0.8
56 17 5
96 6 3.2 0.2
2.2
116
6
76
1.8 1.4
37
29
41 33
25
3
D
5
21 0.3
0.4 0.2
2.8 0.60.5
12 1 0.7 0.3
11 0.8
196 1.2
4
236
216
156
176
4945 13
10
E 2 1.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
2.6
2.4 0.6
2.2 0.4
0.3
F 4 1.8 1.4 0.7
7 0.2
3 8 0.8 0.5
9 5 3.2 1 0.6 0.4 0.3
6 1.2
176 0.7 0.5 0.4
17 3 0.8 0.6
2.8 2 1.6 1
1.4 0.7
56 2.4
2.6 2.21.8 1.2 0.8
1
196 96
1.6 1.4 1.2
356 2
3.2
476416
396 1.8
816
796 556
616 436
576 496 376 296236 4
736
836 636 456
776
716
696
2 656 536
676 336 3
596516 2.8 2.2
276 116 1.61.4
316 2.4
76 2.6 1.2
256
5
136 29 1211 2
1.8 1
216 6 1.6 1.41.2 0.8
25 10 7
3.2 2.2 1
8 0.80.7 0.6
37 32.8 2.4 1.2 0.50.4
21
33 2.6 21.8 1.4 0.6
41 9 4 0.7
13 0.5
1 0.8 0.4
0.3
1
100 200 500 1000 2000 5000 10000 20000 50000 100000

45
20 1.6 1.4 1 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.1
8 7 4 3.2 2.8
19 3 2.21.8 1.2 0.5
6 5 0.4
2.4
18 2.6 2 0.2
0.3
17 10
11
16 13
15
9
87
6 5
4 3.2
3 2.8
1.6
2.2 1.8
1 0.80.7 0.6
1.4 1.2
0.5
0.4
0.1
A
2.4
14 17 2.6 2 0.2
12
13 0.3
10
11
12 9
11
25
13
8 7
6 5
4 3.2
3 2.8
2.2
1.6
1.8
1.4
1
1.2
0.80.7 0.6
0.5
B 0.1
29 0.4
10 21 17 2.42 0.2
2.6
33 12
0.3
9
C
0.1
10
11
8 9
13
1.6 1 0.80.7 0.6 0.2 0.1
7 87 4 3.2
3 2.8 1.4 0.5 0.4
76 1.2
49 0.3
45 37 25 6 2.2 1.8
96 56 5
29
2.4 2
6 21 17 0.2
41
5
33
12
2.6
D
0.4 0.3 0.2
0.70.6 0.5
0.8
10 1
176
4 196 11
1.6 0.3
9
E
1.4
13 1.2 0.4
1.8 0.5
3.2
3
156
136
F 8
7 4 3 2.8 2.2
2
0.6
0.7
0.3
0.2
0.4
76 0.8 0.3
2.4 1 0.5
49 6 5 2.6 0.6 0.4
196 0.7 0.5
1.61.41.2 0.8 0.6
37 25 1.8 1 0.7
45
2.22 1.2
416 2.8 1.4 1
276 3 2.4 1.6
556
596
516 56 3.2
496
536 356 96 29
476436396
336
21
17
616 456
636 216
2 576 2.6
376 296 12 1.8 1.2
4
316 256
1.4 1
176 2
236 41 2.2 1.6 0.8
10 1.2
5 1
9 2.4 1.8 1.4 0.80.7
116 7 2.8 0.6
0.5 0.4
3
2.6
33 1.2 1
11 1.6 0.3
8 6 3.2 0.7 0.4
0.8
2 0.6
0.5
1
100 200 500 1000 2000 5000 10000 20000 50000 100000

46
20 7 2.6
6 2.2 1.2 0.3
19 5 2.4 1.6 0.8
1.8 0.6 0.4
3.2 2.8 0.2 0.1
18 4 1
8 2
17 10 1.4
3 0.7
9 0.5
16
15 13
12
7 6
5
2.6
2.2
2.4
3.22.8
1.6
1.8
1.2 0.8
0.6 0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
A
14 4 1
8 2
17
13 1110 1.4
3 0.7
9 0.5
12
21 7 6 2.6
B
2.2 0.3
11 13 1.2 0.8
12 5 2.4 1.6 0.6 0.1
1.8 0.4 0.2
10 3.22.8
25 4
2 1
29 8
17
9 1110
41 1.4
37 0.7
3
9 0.5
8
49 21 7
6 2.6
C 0.3
0.2
0.1
0.1
7 13 2.2 1.2 0.8 0.6 0.4
5
76 12 2.4 1.6
1.8
6 3.22.8
96
56
45
3329
25
8
4
2 D 1
0.2
5 17 0.7 0.5 0.3
11 1.4
41 10 0.4 0.2
3
37 0.6 0.3
9 0.8
4
176 E 1.2
0.2
7 2.6 0.5
156 1.6
6
F
49 21 2.2 0.4
3 0.3 0.2
1.8 1 0.7
13 2.4 0.6
5
2 1.4 0.8 0.5 0.4 0.3
2.8
3.2 0.7 0.6 0.5
12 4
256 1.2 1
196
216 0.8
236 1.6 0.7
3 1.8 1.4
316 2.2 1.2 1
456 356 76 2.6
436
596
636 8 2.4
576
496
556476 336 116
536
616
516 416
396 2
2 376
136 1
296 1.6
276 25 2.8 0.8
56 1.41.2
3.2 1.8
1 0.7
176 45 0.8 0.6
2.2 0.5
0.4
11 10 6
2
96 0.7
4 3 1.2 0.6
33 17 9 1.6 0.5
29 7 5 1.4
2.6 0.4
2.4
0.8
1 0.3
1
100 200 500 1000 2000 5000 10000 20000 50000 100000

47
20 2.2 0.1
6 5 4 2.4 1.4 1 0.7 0.5 0.2
19 2.8 1.8
2 1.2
18 3
3.2 2.6 0.3
17 9 7
1.6 0.8 0.6 0.4
8
16
0.1
15
14
13
11
12 10
6 5 4
2.8
3
2.2
2.4
3.2 2.6
2
1.8
1.4 1
1.2
0.7 0.5
0.3
0.2
A
17 0.6
1.6 0.8 0.4
13 7
9
8
12
0.1
6 5 2.2 0.5 0.2
B
4 1.4 0.7
11 11 2.4 1
13 2.8 1.8
12 2
10 21 10 3 1.2
2.6 0.3
25 3.2
29
17 0.6
9 1.6 0.4
7 0.8
9
0.1
8
C
8
4133 0.2
5649 0.5
6 5 2.2 1.4 0.7 0.1
7 37 11 4 1
2.4 0.3
13 2.8 1.8
2
45 12
96
76
25
29
21
10 3
3.2
2.6
D 1.2
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.1
17 0.8
5 1.6
7
0.5 0.3 0.2
9
116
E
8 0.7
4
0.4
33 1.4 1
41
49
0.2
3
136
56
F 6 5
4
2.2
2.4 1.8
1.2
0.6
0.8 0.5
0.3
37 11 2 0.4
2.8 0.3
0.7
3 1.6 0.6 0.5 0.4
2.6 1
13 3.2 0.8
1.4 1.2 0.7 0.6
256
416 296 1.8 1 0.8
176 2.2
376336 236196 12 10
516
616496 356 1.6
576
476
536 2
396 276 45
556456
2 216
436 2.4
156
316 76 21 7 0.8
1.4 1.2
2.8 1 0.7
2.6 0.8 0.6
25 4 3 1.8 0.7 0.5
1.6 1.2 0.4
1
17 8 5
29 9 1.4 0.6
3.2 0.3
96
0.8
2
6
0.5 0.4
1
100 200 500 1000 2000 5000 10000 20000 50000 100000

48
20 3.2 0.1
5 4 2 1.8 0.5 0.4 0.2
197 6 3 1.6 1.21 0.7 0.3
2.4
2.6
2.8 0.8 0.6
18
1.4
17 9
8 2.2
16
15 13
10
7 6
5 4
3.2
3
2
2.4
2.6
2.8
1.81.6
1.21 0.7
0.8
0.5 0.4
0.3
0.2 0.1
A
14 0.6
11
12 1.4
13
98
2.2
12
17 3.2 2 0.1
5 4 0.5 0.4 0.2
11 21 3 1.8 1.6 1
13 7 6 1.2
2.4 0.7 0.3
10 2.6
10 2.8 0.8
B
0.6
11
25
12 1.4
9
98
2.2 0.1
8 4137
0.2
7
49
56
29
17
21 7
5
6
4
3.2
3
2
1.8
1.6
1
0.5 0.4
0.7
C 0.3 0.1
45 13 2.4 1.2
10 2.6
76
6 0.8 0.6
33
2.8
0.1
D
11 0.2
25
1.4
5 12
0.4 0.3
9 8 0.5 0.2
2.2
4
4137
96
E 2 1 0.7
3.2
17 5 0.6
3 49 1.81.6 1.2 0.3 0.2
F
4 3 0.8
29 0.4
0.5
56 7 6 2.4 0.3
21 2.6 1.4 0.4
0.70.6
13 2.8 0.5
1 0.8
45 1.2 0.6
216 10 0.7
2.2 1.6
356 21.8 0.8
316
496 1
596 436
416
396 296
476 376 176 1.4
576
556
516
536
2 76
456 0.8
336 256
236 33
196
276 136 1.2 0.7
11 3.2 2.4
3 0.6
1 0.8
2.6
0.7 0.5
156 1.6 0.4
116 1.4
0.6
2.8
4 0.3
12 1.8
25 2.2 1.2 0.8 0.5
8 0.4
5
9 2
1
100 200 500 1000 2000 5000 10000 20000 50000 100000

49
20 5 0.2
4 3.2 2.82.6 2.2 1.6 0.4 0.3 0.1
2.4 1.4 1.2 1 0.8
19 3 0.6 0.5
18 1.8 0.7
6 2
17 8 7
9
16
5 4 3.2 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1
11 2.2
2.62.4
2.8 1.61.4 1.2
15 0.8
A
1 0.5
13 12 10 3 0.6
14 1.8
0.7
6 2
13 8 7
9
12
17 5 4 0.2 0.1
11 3.2 0.4 0.3
11 2.6
2.8 2.2 1.6 1.2
2.4 1.4 1 0.8 0.5
13 10 3 0.6
12
10 1.8
9
25 21
87
6 2
0.7
B
9 0.1
8
0.2
29 0.4 0.3
45 17 5 4 3.2
7 11 0.5 0.1
2.62.2 1.6
49 2.8 2.4 1.41.2 1 0.8
0.6
76 41
3733
13
12 10
3
C
6
56
1.8 0.7
21
25
0.2 0.1
2
5 6
87 0.3
0.4
4
9
D 0.2
29
E 0.5
0.6
3
45
F 17
11
5
4
3.2
2.2
2.6
1.2 1 0.8
1.6 1.4
0.7
0.3
0.4
2.8 2.4
3 0.5 0.3
1.8 0.6 0.4
136 49 2 0.80.7
1 0.5
236 1.2 0.6
13 10 1.4 0.7
0.8
356
336 1.6
416
256 12
396 76 41
476
456 296
2 436376 196156
316 33
116 96 37 6
276 1
56
176 2.21.8 0.6
216 1.2 0.8 0.5
21 0.7
2.62.4
2
7 3.2 2.8 1.4 0.6 0.4
25 0.5
1
3
8 4 0.3
1.6 0.8
0.7 0.4
1
100 200 500 1000 2000 5000 10000 20000 50000 100000

50
7.7 Vibration performance assessment
In the serviceability assessment for the vibration performance, the performance

requirement expressed in terms of floor-class according to Table 7-5 should be
compared with the performance capacity resulting from the OS-RMS90-value in
Figure 7-4 to Figure 7-12.
The performance requirement as well as the use of this guidance should be

agreed with the designer and the client.
OS-RMS90 Function of floor

Critical Workspace
Upper Limit
Lower Limit
Residential
Class
Education
Industrial
Meeting
Health
Prison
Office
Retail
Sport
Hotel
A 0.0 0.1
B 0.1 0.2
C 0.2 0.8
D 0.8 3.2
E 3.2 12.8
F 12.8 51.2
Recommended
Critical
Not recommended
Table 7-5: Recommendations for performance requirements
51
8 Design examples
8.1 Filigree slab with ACB-composite beams (office

building)
8.1.1 Description of the floor
In the first worked example a filigree slab with false-floor in an open plan office
is checked for footfall induced vibrations.
Figure 8-1: Building structure
It is spanning one way over 4.2 m between main beams. Its overall thickness is
160 mm. The main beams are Arcelor Cellular Beams (ACB) which act as
composite beams. They are attached to the vertical columns by a full moment
connection. The floor plan is shown in Figure 8-2. In Figure 8-2 the part of the
52
floor which will be considered for the vibration analysis is indicated by the
hatched area.
Figure 8-2: Floor plan (dimensions in [m])
For the main beams with a span of 16.8 m ACB/HEM400 profiles made of
material S460 have been used. The main beams with the shorter span of 4.2 m
are ACB/HEM360 made of S460.
The cross beams which are spanning in global x-direction may be neglected for
the further calculations, as they do not contribute to the load transfer of the
structure.
The nominal material properties are
- Steel S460: Es = 210 000 N/mm², fy = 460 N/mm²

- Concrete C25/30: Ecm = 31 000 N/mm², fck = 25 N/mm²
53
As required in section 7 of these guidance the nominal Elastic modulus of the
concrete will be increased for the dynamic calculations:
E c ,dyn  1.1  E cm  34100 N / mm ²
The expected mode shape of the part of the floor considered which corresponds
to the first eigenfrequency is shown in Figure 8-4. From the mode shape it can
be concluded that each field of the concrete slab may be assumed to be simply
supported for the further dynamic calculations. Regarding the boundary
conditions of the main beams (see beam to column connection, Figure 8-3), it is
assumed that for small amplitudes as they occur in vibration analysis the beam-
column connection provides sufficient rotational restraint, so that the main
beams may be considered to be fully clamped.
Figure 8-3: Beam to column connection
54
Figure 8-4: Mode shape expected for the part of the floor considered
corresponding to the first eigenfrequency
Section properties
- Slab:
The relevant section properties of the slab in global x-direction are:
mm 2
Ac , x  160
mm
mm 4
I c , x  3.41  10 5
mm
- Main beam:
Assuming the first vibration mode described above the effective width of
the composite beam may be obtained from the following equation:
l0 l0 0.7  16.8
beff  beff ,1  beff , 2    2  2.94 m
8 8 8
The relevant section properties of the main beam for serviceability limit
state (no cracking) are:
Aa ,netto  21936mm 2
Aa brutto  29214 mm 2
Ai  98320 mm 2
55
I i  5.149  10 9 mm 4
Loads
- Slab:
 Self-weight (includes 1.0 kN/m² for false floor):
kN
g slab  160  10 3  25  1.0  5
m2
 Live load: Usually a characteristic live load of 3 kN/m² is
recommended for floors in office buildings. The fraction of the
live load considered for the dynamic calculation is assumed to
be approx. 10% of the full live load, i.e. for the vibration
check it is assumed that
kN
q slab  0.1  3.0  0.3
m2
- Main beam:
 Self-weight (includes 2.00 kN/m for ACB):
4.2 kN
g beam  5.0   2  2.0  23.00
2 m
 Live load:
4.2 kN
q slab  0.3   2  1.26
2 m
8.1.2 Determination of dynamic floor characteristics
Eigenfrequency
The first eigenfrequency is calculated on the basis of the self-weight approach.

The maximum total deflection may be obtained by superposition of the deflection
of the slab and the deflection of the main beam, i.e.
 total   slab   beam
with
5  (5.0  0.3)  10 3  4200 4

 slab   1.9 mm
384  34100  3.41  10 5
56
1  (23.0  1,26)  16800 4
 beam   4.5mm
384  210000  5.149  10 9
The total deflection is
 total  1.9  4.5  6.4 mm
Thus, the first eigenfrequency may be obtained from the self-weight approach
(section 7.4.3):
18
f1   7.1 Hz
6.4
Modal mass
The total mass of the slab is
M total  (5  0.3)  10 2  16.8  4.2  37397 kg
According to Table 7-3, example 3, the modal mass of the slab considered may
be calculated as
1.9 2  4.5 2 8 1.9  4.5 

M mod  37397    2   17220kg
 2  6.4
2
 6.4 2 
Damping
The damping ratio of the steel-concrete slab with false floor is determined
according to Table 7-4:
D  D1  D2  D3  1%  1%  1%  3 %
with
57
D1 = 1.0 % (composite slab)
D2 = 1.0 % (open plan office)
D3 = 1.0 % (false floor)
8.1.3 Assessment
Based on the modal properties calculated above, the floor is classified as class C
(Figure 7-6). The expected OS-RMS90 value is approx. 0.5 mm/s.
According to Table 7-5 class C is classified as being suitable for office buildings,
i.e. the requirements are fulfilled.
8.2 Three storey office building
8.2.1 Description of the floor
The floor of this office building, Figure 8-5, has a span of 15 m from edge beam
to edge beam. In the regular area these secondary floor beams have IPE600
sections and are laying in a distance of 2.5 m. Primary edge beam which span
7.5 m from column to column have also IPE600 sections, see Figure 8-6.
Figure 8-5: Building overview
58
Figure 8-6: Steel section of the floor
The floor is a composite plate with steel sheets COFRASTRA 70 with a total
thickness of 15 cm, as represented in Figure 8-7.
Figure 8-7: Floor set up
The nominal material properties are:
- Steel S235: Es = 210 000 N/mm², fy = 235 N/mm²

- Concrete C25/30: Ecm = 31 000 N/mm², fck = 25 N/mm²
E c ,dyn  1.1  E cm  34100 N / mm ²
Section properties
59
- Slab (transversal to beam):
A = 1170 cm²/m
I = 20 355 cm4/m
g = 3.5 kN/m²
g = 0.5 kN/m²
- Composite beam (beff = 2,5m; E=210000 N/mm²):

A = 468 cm²
I = 270 089 cm4
g = (3.5+0.5) x 2.5 + 1.22 = 11.22 kN/m
Loads
- Slab (transversal to beam):

g + g = 4.0 kN/m² (permanent load)
q = 3.0 x 0.1 = 0.3 kN/m² (10% of full live load)
ptotal = 4.3 kN/m²
- Composite beam (beff = 2.5m; E=210000 N/mm²):

g = 11.22 kN/m
q = 0.3 x 2.5 = 0.75 kN/m
ptotal = 11.97 kN/m
8.2.2 Determination of dynamic floor characteristics
Supporting conditions
The secondary beams are connected to the primary beams which have open
sections with low torsional stiffness. Thus these beams may be assumed to be
simple supported.
Eigenfrequency
For this example the supporting conditions are determined in two ways.
60
The first method is the application of the beam formula neglecting the
transversal stiffness of the floor.
The second method is the self-weight method considering the transversal

stiffness.
 Application of the beam equation (Table 7.2):
p  11.97 [kN / m]    11.97  1000 [kg m / s ² / m] / 9.81[m / s ²]  1220 [kg / m]

2 3EI 2 3  210000  10 6 [ N / m²]  270089  10 8 [m 4 ]
f    4.77 Hz
 0.49 l 4
 0.49  1220 [kg / m]  15 4 [m 4 ]
 Application of the equation for orthotropic plates (section 7.4.2):
 EI y   b  2  b  4  EI
f1  1  2      x
2  l4   l   l   EI y
 210000  10 6  270089  10 8   2.5  2  2.5  4  3410  20355
 1  2    
2 1220  15 4   15   15   21000  270089
 4.76  1.00  4.76 Hz
 Application of the self-weight approach (section 7.4.3):

 total   slab   beam
5  4.3  103  25004

 slab   0.3 mm
384  34100  2.0355  105
5  11.97  150004
 beam   13.9mm
384  210000  270089  104
 total  0.3  13.9  14.2 mm
18
 f1   4.78 Hz
14.2
Modal mass
The determination of the eigenfrequency, as presented above, shows that the
load bearing behaviour of the floor can be approximated by a simple beam
61
model. Thus, this model is taken for the determination of the modal mass; see
Figure 7-2:
M mod  0,5  l  0,5  1220  15  9150 kg
Damping
The damping ratio of the steel-concrete slab with false floor is determined
according to Table 7-4:
D  D1  D2  D3  1%  1%  1%  3 %
with
D1 = 1.0 % (composite slab)
D2 = 1.0 % (open plan office)
D3 = 1.0 % (ceiling under floor)
62
8.2.3 Assessment
Based on the modal properties calculated above, the floor is classified as class D
(Figure 7-6). The expected OS-RMS90 value is approx. 3.2 mm/s.
According to Table 7-5 class D is classified as being suitable for office buildings,
i.e. the requirements are fulfilled.
63
9 References
[1] G. Sedlacek, Chr. Heinemeyer, Chr. Butz, B. Völling, S. Hicks, P. Waarts, F. van
Duin, T. Demarco: “Generalisation of criteria for floor vibrations for industrial, office
and public buildings and gymnastic halls - VOF”, RFCS Report EUR 21972 EN, 2006,
ISBN 92-76-01705-5, http://europa.eu.int.
[2] M. Feldmann, Chr. Heinemeyer, E. Caetano, A. Cunha, F. Galant, A. Goldack, O.

Hechler, S. Hicks, A. Keil, M. Lukic, R. Obiala, M. Schlaich, A. Smith, P. Waarts:
RFCS-Project: ”Human induced Vibration of Steel Structures – HIVOSS“: Design
Guideline and Background Report“ Internet: http://ww.stb.rwth-
aachen.de/projekte/2007/HIVOSS/HIVOSS.html.
[3] H. Bachmann, W. Amman: “Vibration of Structures induced by Man and Machines”

IABSE-AIPC-IVBH, Zürich, ISBN 3-85748-052-X, 1987.
[4] Waarts, P. “Trillingen van vloeren door lopen: Richtlijn voor het voorspellen, meten en
beoordeelen”, SBR, September 2005.
[5] A. Smith, S. Hicks, P. Devine: “Design of Floors for Vibration: A new Approach”, SCI-
Publication P354, ISBN 10:1-85942-176-8, ISBN 13:978-1-85942-176-5, 2007.
[6] ISO/DIS 10137: “Basis for design of structures – Serviceability of buildings and
walkways against vibrations”, International Organisation for Standardisation, 2007.
[7] ISO 2631-1: Mechanical vibration and shock - Evaluation of human exposure to
whole body vibration; Part 1: General requirements, 1997 International Organisation
for Standardisation.
[8] ISO 2631-2: Mechanical vibration and shock - Evaluation of human exposure to
whole body vibration: Part 2. Vibration in buildings (1 Hz-80 Hz), April 2003.
[9] Verein Deutscher Ingenieure: “VDI-Richtlinie 2057: Einwirkungen mechanischer

Schwingungen auf den Menschen”, VDI-Verlag GmbH, Düsseldorf, 2002.
[10] NS 8176 E ”Vibration and shock – Measurement of vibration in buildings from land
based transports and guidance to evaluation of its effect on human beings“,
Standards Norway (1999, 2005).
[11] DIN 4150 “Erschütterungen im Bauwesen – Teil 2: Einwirkungen auf Menschen in

Gebäuden”, June 1999.
64
European Commission
EUR 24084 EN – Joint Research Centre – Institute for the Protection and Security of the Citizen
Title: Design of floor structures for human induced vibrations
Author(s): M. Feldmann, Ch. Heinemeyer, Chr. Butz, E. Caetano, A. Cunha, F. Galanti, A.

Goldack, O. Hechler, S. Hicks, A. Keil, M. Lukic, R. Obiala, M. Schlaich, G.
Sedlacek, A. Smith, P. Waarts
Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities
2009 – 64 pp. – 21 x 29.7 cm
EUR – Scientific and Technical Research series – ISSN 1018-5593
ISBN 978-92-79-14094-5
DOI 10.2788/4640
Abstract
In recent years, the introduction of new structural materials and innovative
construction processes, associated to architectural and space arrangement
requirements, in multi-storey buildings construction have produced significantly
more flexible floor structural systems. The design of these floor systems is
usually controlled by serviceability criteria, deflections or vibrations. Recognizing
a gap in the design codes, this report gives a procedure for the determination
and assessment of floor response for human induced vibrations.
First, the proposed procedure is presented, giving particular attention to the
human induced loading characterization, dynamic properties and the comfort
criteria for the verification of floor structural systems. Design charts are derived.
Finally, it is presented a guidance manual to use the simplified procedure
proposed for the design of building floors for human induced vibrations. Two
worked examples of the proposed design procedure are given, namely a filigree
slab with ACB-composite beams and a composite slab with steel beams.
Keywords: Floor structures; Design procedures; Human induced vibrations;

Structural safety; Human comfort; Dynamic properties; Vibration control
How to obtain EU publications
Our priced publications are available from EU Bookshop (http://bookshop.europa.eu), where you
can place an order with the sales agent of your choice.
The Publications Office has a worldwide network of sales agents. You can obtain their contact
details by sending a fax to (352) 29 29-42758.
The mission of the JRC is to provide customer-driven scientific and technical support for the
conception, development, implementation and monitoring of EU policies. As a service of the
European Commission, the JRC functions as a reference centre of science and technology for
the Union. Close to the policy-making process, it serves the common interest of the Member
States, while being independent of special interests, whether private or national.
The European Convention for Constructional Steelwork (ECCS) is the federation of the National
Association of Steelwork industries and covers a worldwide network of Industrial Companies,
Universities and research Institutes.

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Design of floor structures for human

Background document in support to the implementation, harmonization and

EUR 24084 EN - 2009

Background document in support to the implementation, harmonization and

EUR 24084 EN - 2009

Europe Direct is a service to help you find answers

 Generalisation of criteria for floor vibrations for industrial, office and

 Human induced vibrations of steel structures – HIVOSS prepared by

The project partners gratefully acknowledge the financial contributions of RFCS

(1) The EN Eurocodes are a series of European Standards which provide a

They enable to design construction works, to check their stability and to

(3) Sustainability requirements for buildings often lead to structural concepts,

(6) It applies to floors in office and/or residential buildings that might be

Aachen, Delft, Paris and Ispra, September 2009

Michel Géradin, Artur Pinto, Humberto Varum

Damping D Damping is the energy dissipation of a vibrating

 material and structural damping

Modal mass Mmod In many cases, a system with n degrees of freedom

fi is the natural frequency of the i-th system

Kmod,i is the modal stiffness of the i-th system

Mmod,i is the modal mass of the i-th system

Thus, the modal mass can be interpreted to be the

The determination of the modal mass is described in

The natural frequency is the frequency of a free

Each structure has as many natural frequencies and

The equation for the natural frequency of a single

where: K is the stiffness

OS-RMS90 One-Step-RMS-value of the acceleration resp. velocity

OS: One step

RMS: Root mean square = effective value of the

where: T is the period.

D Damping ratio (% of critical damping) [-]

D1 Structural damping ratio [-]

D2 Damping ratio from furniture [-]

D3 Damping ratio from finishings [-]

(x,y) Deflection at location x,y [m]

E Young’s modulus [kN/cm2]

f, fi Natural frequency [Hz]

fs Walking frequency [Hz]

G Body weight [kg]

Mmod Modal mass [kg]

Mtotal Total mass [kg]

 Mass distribution per unit of length or per unit of [kg/m] or

OS- 90 % fractile of OS-RMS values [-]

p Distributed load (per unit of length or per unit of [kN/m] or

T Period (of oscillation) [s]

Modern materials and construction processes, e.g. composite floor systems or

These uncertainties are related to:

- a suitable design model including the effects of frequencies, damping,

1. the characteristics of the loading by identifying the appropriate features

Figure 3-1: Movement phases of legs and feet during walking

Contact force related to body weight (normalized force)

The standard walking load of a person can then be described as a series of

Coefficient step frequency ranges

fs ≤ 1.75 Hz 1.75 < fs < 2 Hz fs ≥ 2 Hz

K2 376 × fs – 844 -404 × fs + 521 -1720 × fs + 3153

K3 -2804 × fs + 4224 × fs – 6274 17055 × fs - 31936

K4 6308 × fs – -29144 × fs + -94265 × fs +

K5 1732 × fs + 109976 × fs – 298940 × fs –

K6 -24648 × fs + -217424 × fs + -529390 × fs +

K7 31836 × fs – 212776 × fs – 481665× fs –

K8 -12948× fs + -81572× fs + -174265× fs +