Acceleration Thresholds of Vertical Floor Vibrations According to Human Perception Levels in Korea

Abstract

Vertical floor vibrations in residential buildings are typically induced by the movements of jumping and walking of occupants, which often annoy other occupants. To help control such floor vibrations, several criteria have been developed mostly based on human perception tests. The objective of this study is to propose acceleration thresholds of appropriate vertical floor vibration due to heel impacts and walking activities. Four different perception levels are considered appropriate criteria for Korean residential buildings; imperceptible, slightly perceptible, distinctly perceptible, and strongly perceptible. Shaking table tests were conducted simulating heel impact induced- and walking induced-vertical vibrations for various combinations of frequencies, damping ratios and acceleration amplitudes. Twenty Korean test subjects were used. It is observed that test subjects are more sensitive to walking-induced vibrations than those induced by heel impacts having the same peak accelerations. This study also shows that the acceleration thresholds proposed as a result of this study using Korean testing subjects are lower than those proposed by other researchers in different countries.