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Vibration problems in structures practical


guidelines: Review

Article in Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering April 1997


DOI: 10.1139/l96-116

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Patrick Paultre
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336

Vibration problems in structures practical


guidelines1
Patrick Paultre

The objective of this book, as stated by the authors, is to give gation theory, dynamic behaviour of steel and concrete, dy-
guidelines for the practical treatment of vibration problems in namic forces induced by humans, dynamic effects of wind, and
structures. The intended reader audiences are practicing human and structural response to vibrations.
structural and civil engineers... not specialists in dynamics. Chapter 1 discusses vibrations induced by people on pedes-
The following sources of vibration are considered: human trian bridges, floors with people walking, floors for sport or
body motion, rotating, oscillating and impacting machines, dance activities, floors with fixed seating and spectator galler-
wind flow, road traffic, railway traffic, and construction work. ies, and high diving platforms. The dynamic actions are dis-
Impact problems and fatigue effects are not covered by the cussed and structural criteria are listed. Tolerable values of
guidelines as well as earthquake-induced vibrations, which is acceleration or velocities, where applicable, are presented
certainly one of the most frequent dynamic problems faced by from CSA, DIN, ISO, British, and Ontario Highway Bridge
structural engineers, as most common structures are sensible to codes. Remedial measures discussed include frequency shift
this type of loading. by stiffening, increased damping, and vibration absorbers. The
The guidelines were prepared by the international task most economical solution is usually underlined. A few refer-
group, Vibrations, of the Comit Euro-International du Bton ences are given on the application of the different remedial
(CEB) and were published as CEB Bulletin dInformation No. measures to practical cases at the end of the chapter. However,
209 in 1991. At that time, the authors welcomed critiques and a number of references on the analysis, design, and application
remarks from professional colleagues with a view to making of vibration absorbers, the most widely used retrofit method
improvements in a later edition of the guidelines. Some three for vibration induced by people on pedestrian bridges, are
years later the guidelines are published in a more attractive given in Appendix D.
book format with enhanced typesetting presentation. Changes Chapter 2 covers vibrations induced by machinery equip-
are mostly editorial, and the presentation of the data in clearer ment that are permanently fixed in place. The chapter is di-
tables in the appendices is welcomed. The international group vided in four subchapters discussing machine foundations and
was chaired by Prof. H. Bachmann, from Switzerland, and was supports, bell towers, structure-borne sound, and ground-
composed of Dr. W. J. Ammann, Liechtenstein; Dr. F. Deischl, transmitted vibrations. The subsection on machine foundations
Germany; Dr. J. Eisenmann, Germany; Dr. I. Floogl, Germany; and supports is the longer of the four subsections and the most
Dipl.-Ing. G.H. Hirsch, Germany; Prof. G.K. Klein, Germany; complete. Dynamic actions such as periodic, transient, and
Dr. G.J. Lande, Sweden; Prof. O. Mahrenholtz, Germany; stochastic excitation are discussed. Damping values for differ-
Prof. H.G. Natke, Germany; Dr. H. Nussbaumer, Germany; ent supporting structures are indicated. Effects on structures,
Dr. A.J. Pretlove, England; Dr. J.H. Rainer, Canada; Dr. E.U. people, and machinery are briefly listed and tolerable values
Saemann, Germany; and Dr. L. Steinbeisser, Germany, all of excitation are indicated, taken mostly from ISO and DIN
noted experts in the different fields covered by the book. codes. Design and remedial measures are discussed, including
The book is divided into four chapters covering structural low and high tuning, depending on the type of machine and
vibrations induced (i) by people, (ii) by machinery, (iii) by operating frequency. The other subchapters are very general
wind, and (iv) by traffic and construction activity. For ease of and introduce the subject and give some definitions. They are
use, the different authors have presented each chapter in a useful in that they will allow a practicing engineer to be con-
consistent manner. The content of each chapter is standard and versant with a specialist of the problem at hand.
as follows: (i) problem description, (ii) dynamic actions, (iii) Chapter 3 is divided into seven subchapters covering
structural criteria, (iv) effects, (v) tolerable values, (vi) simple wind-induced vibrations on tall buildings, towers, chimneys
design rules, (vii) more advanced design rules, and (viii) reme- and masts, guyed masts, bridge pylons, suspension and cable-
dial measures. stayed bridges, and cantilevered roofs. Forced vibrations, due
Ten appendices are provided, briefly summarizing basic to gust actions from turbulence effects and buffeting in the
vibration theory and related topics (the decibel scale, the con- wind direction and vortex shedding, without lock-in effect,
cept of damping and tuned vibration absorbers), wave propa- are covered, as well as across-wind self-induced vibrations due
to vortex shedding with lock-in effect, galloping, and flutter.
Simple design rules corresponding to two standards, namely
Received October 17, 1995.
Manuscript accepted November 14, 1996. Eurocode and ISO, are presented. Remedial measures dis-
cussed include installation of damping elements, optimum-
P. Paultre. Dpartement de gnie civil, Universit de tuned vibration absorbers, and aerodynamic measures for steel
Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC JIK 2RI, Canada. chimneys.
1
Edited by H. Bachmann. Birkhuser Verlag, Basel, Boston, Chapter 4 deals with traffic-induced vibrations on roads,
Berlin. 1995. 234 p. railways, and bridges, as well as vibrations generated by

Can. J. Civ. Eng. 24: 336337 (1997) 1997 NRC Canada


Book Reviews/Critiques de livres 337

construction activity. The mechanisms of vibration transmis- components are listed at the end of the appendix for concrete
sion from moving vehicles to surrounding structures (above structures. Human and building response to vibrations and ac-
and under ground) are discussed, and the critical parameters ceptable limits, according to German DIN and ISO codes, are
(vehicle and structural characteristics) are covered. Remedial presented in tabular form in Appendices I and J.
measures including frequency tuning, isolation with mass- An important point with the book is that vibration tests are
spring systems, and tuned mass dampers are listed, but the often recommended for exact determination of natural fre-
reader is not always provided with a reference on their practi- quencies or for the evaluation of damping quantities in identi-
cal implementation. fying sources of problem or in designing remedial measures.
Appendix A gives a comprehensive summary of structural It is underlined that tests will lead to more reliable values of
dynamics fundamentals, covering the basic equation of mo- dynamic characteristics because of variability of material
tion, free and forced vibrations, frequency tuning, transmissi- properties.
bility, and continuous systems. The decibel scale, which is The book represents a comprehensive but concise, compact
often used in design codes to specify tolerable values, is briefly companion to structural engineers faced with a wide range of
described in Appendix B. Damping is discussed in Appendix vibration problems in structures. As the subtitle states, it is a
C, with subsections on definitions, interpretations, and meas- brief overview of topics, with appropriate references for more
urement methods. Damping mechanisms in reinforced con- difficult problems. The presentation is quite dry, with a
crete are discussed in more details, and overall structural number of repetitions from chapter to chapter due to the stand-
damping is presented in tabular form for various systems. In- ard format used for every chapter, but lends itself well to be
fluence of nonstructural elements on overall damping is pre- used as a handbook. One important concern is that most of the
sented in general terms. Appendix D briefly discusses tuned references were published in Europe in the German language
vibration absorbers. The fundamentals of wave propagation (titles are, however, translated). This reflects the fact that of
are presented in Appendix E, where volume (P and S) and the 15 members of the original CEB committee, 11 are from
surface (Rayleigh) waves as well as attenuation laws are dis- Germany. Most of the references to codes of practice or to
cussed. Effects of loading rate on the mechanical properties of standards are from German DIN and ISO codes, with some
concrete (according to CEB-FIP recommendations) and of references from different Canadian standards (CSA), British
steel are summarized in Appendix F. Fourier coefficients and codes, or the Ontario Highway Bridge Code.
phase lags are presented for different types of activity and are The authors have presented a concise and useful compila-
linked to the different methods of determining excitations from tion of vibration problems faced by structural engineers. Meth-
the human activities presented in Chapter 1. Dynamic effects ods of analysis of different problems and simple design rules
from wind are thoroughly discussed in 24 pages with subsec- are presented with appropriate references for more difficult
tions on basic theory, vibration in along-wind direction in- problems. This book will be of great value to practicing engi-
duced by gusts and by buffeting, vibration in across-wind neers and even to academics involved in dynamics of struc-
direction induced by vortex-shedding, galloping, and flutter. tures.
Common values of contributions to damping from different

1997 NRC Canada

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