Journal of Constructional Steel Research 64 (2008) 11421151

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Dynamic analysis of composite systems made of concrete slabs and

steel beams
A.V.A. Mello a , J.G.S. da Silva b, , P.C.G. da S. Vellasco c , S.A.L. de Andrade c , L.R.O. de Lima c
a Postgraduate Programme in Civil Engineering, PGECIV, State University of Rio de Janeiro, UERJ, Brazil
b Mechanical Engineering Department, State University of Rio de Janeiro, UERJ, Brazil
c Structural Engineering Department, State University of Rio de Janeiro, UERJ, Brazil

Received 1 March 2007; accepted 15 September 2007

Abstract

Structural engineers have long been trying to develop solutions using the full potential of its composing materials. At this point there is no doubt
that the structural solution progress is directly related to an increase in materials science knowledge. These efforts in conjunction with up-to-date
modern construction techniques have led to an extensive use of composite floors in large span structures. On the other hand, the competitive trends
of the world market have long been forcing structural engineers to develop minimum weight and labour cost solutions. A direct consequence of
this new design trend is a considerable increase in problems related to unwanted floor vibrations. For this reason, the structural floors systems
become vulnerable to excessive vibrations produced by impacts such as human rhythmic activities. The main objective of this paper is to present an
analysis methodology for the evaluation of the composite floors human comfort. This procedure takes into account a more realistic loading model
developed to incorporate the dynamic effects induced by human walking. The investigated structural models were based on various composite
floors, with main spans varying from 5 to 10 m. Based on an extensive parametric study the composite floors dynamic response, in terms of peak
accelerations, was obtained and compared to the limiting values proposed by several authors and design standards. This strategy was adopted to
provide a more realistic evaluation for this type of structure when subjected to vibration due to human walking.
c 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Vibration; Composite floor; Composite floor structural dynamics; Serviceability; Human walking; Dynamic loading factor and dynamic structural design

1. Introduction light structures with low associated natural frequencies. These

Nowadays the new architecture tendencies and construction
market demands are leading the structural engineers to search
for increasingly daring solutions. These structural systems
demand a substantial amount of experience and knowledge
from the structural designers allied to the use of new materials
and technologies. These new structural systems are intrinsically
associated to the recent evolution of building construction
methods, i.e. fast erection and assembly, with minimum weight,
being capable of supporting large spans with few columns
enabling greater constructed space flexibility.
Based on significant developments related to the material
science, a reduction of the structural elements cross-sections is
currently being observed and produced extremely slender and
Corresponding author. Tel.: +5521 2587 7537; fax: +5521 2587 7537.
E-mail addresses: jgss@uerj.br, jgss@eng.uerj.br (J.G.S. da Silva).
new characteristics produced floor structural systems with
natural frequencies closer to the frequency range associated
with human activities. This fact has made these structural
systems vulnerable to the vibration effects induced by low
impacts, i.e. human walking or, by more intense excitations
like the ones associated to human rhythmic activities. These
vibrations result in discomfort to the users and, in a few cases,
can compromise the structural integrity.
Due to the above mentioned aspects a consistent structural
analysis of the floor dynamic behaviour is advisable. These
design related aspects have led structural designers to verify
the resistance and stability of the structural systems that
do not exceed their ultimate limit states. However, the
problems related to these structural system serviceability
limit states should be analysed with caution, searching for
viable alternatives to minimize the human activities vibration
effects.

c 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

0143-974X/$ - see front matter

doi:10.1016/j.jcsr.2007.09.011
 A.V.A. Mello et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 64 (2008) 11421151
Over the last few years the dynamic behaviour of
these composite floor systems has been experimentally and
analytically investigated by various authors. These studies have
used modern computational tools for structural analysis with
the aid of finite element method.
These were the main motivations for the present study that
investigated the dynamic behaviour of composite floor systems
(steel-concrete) when subjected to human dynamic actions. The
investigation was carried out based on a more realistic load
model developed to incorporate the human walking dynamic
effects.
In this particular load model, the leg motion that causes
an ascent and descend movement of the human body effective
mass, at each step, was considered. The dynamic load position
also changed according to the individual position and the
generated time function, corresponding to the human walking
excitation.
The investigated structural model was based on several
floors, with main spans varying from 5 to 10 m. The composite
structural systems were made of an I steel profile and a
reinforced concrete slab. The proposed computational model
adopted the usual mesh refinement techniques present in finite
element simulations [1].
Initially, all the composite floor natural frequencies and
vibration modes were obtained. Subsequently, based on an
extensive parametric study, the floors dynamic response in
terms of peak accelerations was obtained and compared to
the limiting values proposed by several authors and design
codes [2,3]. This strategy was used to provide a more realistic
evaluation of walking induced vibrations in the investigated
structural system.
The results of the present investigation indicated that in
several floors, the level of the dynamic effects could induce
excessive vibrations, causing human discomfort conditions and
even compromising the structural system. The results also
showed that, in specific situations, the design standards could
produce unsafe solutions because they were based on the
adoption of excessively simplified load models [2,3].
2. Human-induced dynamic loads
Floor vibrations induced by human rhythmic activities like:
walking, running, jumping or even aerobics consist of a very
complex problem. This is due to the fact that the dynamic
excitation characteristics generated during these activities are
directly related to the individual body adversities and to the
specific way in which each human being executes a certain
rhythmic task. All these aspects do not contribute for an easy
mathematical or physical characterization of this phenomenon.
Human beings have always analysed the most apparent
distinctions of the various activities they perform. However
the fundamental mechanical analysis of these tasks was not
possible before a significant development of the mechanical
science. Initially the human motion received an incipient
attention from researchers like Borelli in 1679 [4] and the
Weber brothers in 1836 [4]. The first pioneer on this field was
Otto Fischer, a German mathematician that in 1895 made the
1143
first study containing a comprehensive evaluation of the forces
involved in human motion.
In order to determine the dynamic behaviour of floor
structural systems subjected to excitations from human
activities, various studies have tried to evaluate the magnitude
of these rhythmic loads. The following stage of this research
line was the development of a loading platform, Elftman [4],
that enable the determination of the ground reactions to the foot
forces associated to the human walk motion. The typical force
platform is made by an approximate 1 m2 steel plate supported
by four small columns at the plate midsides. Load cells were
installed at each of the columns to detect the magnitude of
the load variation at these points. With these results in hand
it was possible to determine the magnitude and direction of
the forces transmitted to the supporting surface, denominated
ground reaction forces.
Rainer et al. [5] also contributed in this investigation
developing more sophisticated load platforms that recorded the
ground reaction forces coming from the foot forces associated
to the human motion. Ebrahimpur et al. [6] developed a 14.2 m
length 2 m wide platform designed to record the actions from
a single individual, or groups of two or four individual walk
motion.
Another load model used to represent the walk motion forces
is expressed as a function of tests that recorded the heel impact
over the floor. This load type, considered as the main excitation
source during the human walk motion, produces a transient
response, i.e. when the system is excited by an instantaneous
force application. Its graphical representation was illustrated by
Ohmart [7] in experiments, denominated heel drop tests, where
the individual drops its heel over the floor after elevating it to a
height corresponding to its weight.
The heel drop test was also made by Murray and
Hendrick [8] in different building types. A 0.84 kN impact force
was measured by a seismograph in nine church ceremonial
rooms, three slabs located at a shopping mall highest floor,
two balcony slabs of a hotel and one slab located at a
commercial building second floor. With these results in
hand, the structural dynamic responses, in terms of the
force amplitudes, frequencies and damping, associated to the
investigated structural systems, could be determined.
A significant contribution to this field was made in Brazil
by Alves [9] and Faisca [10] based on experiments made with
a group of volunteers acting on a concrete platform. These
tests enabled the development of approximated descriptions
of the loads induced by human activities such as: jumps,
aerobics, soccer and rock show audience responses. These tests
were executed over two concrete platforms, one rigid and the
other flexible, both of them over movable supports. With these
kind of support the structure stiffness could be vary, enabling
an investigation of the human rhythmic load over rigid or
flexible structures. The experimental results analysis, allied to
an analytical model, led to the development of load functions
associated to synchronous and asynchronous activities that
could be used in structural designs intended for stadiums and
other related structures.
1144 A.V.A. Mello et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 64 (2008) 11421151
Table 1
Minimum required natural frequency, Allen et al. [16]
Minimum natural frequency according to the construction type and use
(Hz)
Floor characteristics Floors used in ballroomsa Arenas and
and Floors used in gymsb stadiumsb
Concrete constructions 7 5
Composite constructions 9 6
Timber constructions 12 8 the problems related to dynamical excitations produced by
a Limit peak acceleration: 0.02g.
b Limit peak acceleration: 0.05g.
Despite the floor vibration problems induced by human
activities have significantly grown over the last few years, it
should be stressed that this research field is not new. Since 1828,
Tredgold [11] proposed design criteria to avoid, or minimize,
undesirable effects related to floor vibrations by increasing
the beam heights used in large span structures. Since then
numerous design criteria have been proposed all over the world
trying to establish vibration limits that do not compromise the
common human comfort standards.
Reiher and Meister [12] proposed a scale enabling the
description of the human perception and acceptable levels
associated to continuous vibrations. The scale was calibrated in
terms of the frequencies and amplitudes of the displacements
that were based on test results where a group of standing
individuals was subjected to continuous vibrations within a
frequency range of 1100 Hz and amplitudes ranging from 0.01
to 10 mm. Lezen [13] after evaluating the dynamic response of
two floors in the laboratory and 46 different types of building
floors designed for offices, churches, classrooms among others,
concluded that the original Reiher and Meister [12] scale could
be modified to be used in floor with damping ratios less
than 5%. Wiss and Parmalee [14] presented a study where
a group of 40 individuals was submitted to a specific load
function designed to simulate the usual vibrations present in
building structures. The aim of this study was to experimentally
investigate the human reaction to transient vertical vibrations in
terms of: frequency, displacements and damping.
Murray [15] classified the human vibration perception in
four categories, i.e.: The vibration is not noticed by the
occupants; The vibration is noticed but does not disturb the
occupants; The vibration is noticed and disturbs the occupants;
The vibration can compromise the security of the occupants.
These categories were established based on 100 heel drop
tests performed on composite floors made of steel beams and
concrete slabs.
Allen et al. [16], proposed minimum values for the natural
frequencies of structures evaluated according to the type of
occupation and their main characteristics. These values were
based on the dynamical load values produced by human
rhythmic activities like as dancing and aerobics and on the
limit acceleration values associated to those activities. Table 1
presents these natural frequency values where it is possible
to observe that the minimum required values are greater that
6 Hz [16].
Procedures for the determination of the minimum thickness
of rectangular plane slabs submitted to harmonic loads induced
by human dynamic actions are also presented by Pasquetti
et al. [17]. These authors also developed charts to aid
structural designer to evaluate residential building slab dynamic
responses when submitted to actions due to fast walk and even
rhythmic activities.
Experiments made by Batista and Varela [18] indicated that
human rhythmic actions are more pronounced and frequent in
continuous slab panels that present coupled vibration modes
such as composite slabs, waffled and grillage slab systems or
precast concrete slabs. Batista and Varela [18] also verified that
a 60% increase on the original slab thickness or the use of
light partition panels did not led to an efficient solution. The
ideal solution was the use of synchronized dynamic attenuators.
These attenuators are devices capable of producing a reduction
of the maximum amplitude of the dynamic response for a
specific natural vibration frequency.
The evaluation of the floor structural response also should
be carefully investigated when a change on the structure
dynamic load occurs due to the use of different way from
the one assumed in design. A structure originally designed
to be submitted to static loads have to be analysed and/or
subsequently being reinforced to be used in situations where
dynamic actions are present.
Paula and Queiroz [19], presented a study of a composite
structure (steel beams and concrete slab) designed for static
loads that were subsequently subjected to human rhythmic
activities. The problem was analysed and modelled with the aid
of a finite element program. The dynamic load representative
of the rhythmic activity was simulated by harmonic loads
where the main excitation frequency and some of their
multiples were considered. The structure natural frequency
results obtained with the finite element model were then
compared to experiments on a similar structure. A proposal for
strengthening the structure to its new use is also presented based
on an evaluation of the new levels of accelerations and stresses
present in the structure.
3. Floor vibrations due to human activities
The type of dynamic loading considered in this investigation
is induced by human activities such as walking, running,
jumping, dance, sport events or even gymnastics. This type
of dynamic action basically occurs in structures like floors,
footbridges and gymnasiums when submitted to rhythmic
human activities.
In order to control the problem of excessive vibrations on the
structural systems subjected to this type of dynamic loading,
it is usually recommended to increase the structural system
stiffness or damping, installation of dampers or even to limit
the use of the structure.
This way, with the objective of evaluating the composite
floors dynamic response based on a more realistic load model,
four different strategies to considerer the human loading were
proposed. These load models were developed in order to
 A.V.A. Mello et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 64 (2008) 11421151 1145

Fig. 1. First load model. Dynamic loading function for a single person walking. Fig. 2. Second and third load models.

incorporate the dynamic effects induced by people walking

Table 2
when the dynamic response of composite floors is investigated. Forcing frequencies ( f s ) and dynamic coefficients (i )

3.1. First load model Harmonic i Human walking

f s (Hz) i
In this load model, the dynamic forces that represent the LM-II and LM-III LM-IV
walking loads, see Fig. 1, were calculated by Eq. (1), and have 1 1.62.2 0.5 0 0
been applied considering that only one resonant harmonic of the 2 3.24.4 0.2 /2 /2
load was applied on the highest modal amplitude of the floor. 3 4.86.6 0.1 /2
4 6.48.8 0.05 /2 3/2
The excitation frequency was made equal to the composite
floor fundamental frequency. For instance, if the analysed floor
presents a fundamental frequency equal to 7.424 Hz, only the where:
fourth harmonic of the walking loads with a step frequency of
1.856 Hz, see Table 2, was applied (4 1.856 Hz = 7.424 Hz). P: individuals weight;
i : dynamic coefficient for the harmonic force;
F(t) = Pi cos (2 i f s t) (1) i: harmonic multiple (i = 1, 2, 3, . . . , n);
where: fs : step frequency of the activity (dancing, jumping,
aerobics or walking);
P: individuals weight, taken as 700800 N [20,21]; t: time in seconds.
i : dynamic coefficient for the ith harmonic force : phase angle for the harmonic.
component;
i: harmonic multiple of the step frequency;
fs : step frequency; 3.3. Third load model
t: time in seconds.
The third representation of the human walking is more
3.2. Second load model realistic than the first and second load models. In this particular
model the position of the dynamic loading is changed according
The modelling of the second type of load is similar to with the individual position, and the generated time function
the previous model related to the dynamic load position. has a space and time description.
However, this strategy is composed for the load static parcel, In this load model, the leg motion that cause an ascent
corresponding to the individual weight, and a combination of and descend movement of the effective mass of the human
harmonic forces or time-dependent repeated forces represented body at each passing was considered. Despite this fact, the
by the Fourier series, see Fig. 2, as presented in the Eq. (2). study of several other parameters in this type of modelling
In this investigation, four harmonics were used to generate like as the step distance and its speed becomes imperative.
the dynamical loads. Considering the previous example These parameters are associated to the step frequency and are
associated with a composite floor with fundamental frequency illustrated in Table 3 [22].
equal to 7.424 Hz, only the fourth harmonic of the walking The pedestrian motion on the composite floors was modelled
loading with step frequency of 1.856 Hz, see Table 2, was based on the Eq. (2) and four harmonics were used to generate
applied (4 1.856 Hz = 7.424 Hz). The dynamic coefficients the dynamic forces, as presented in Table 2. Like the previous
and phase angles used in this analysis are showed in Table 2. load models, the fourth harmonic with a step frequency of
h X i 1.856 Hz, see Table 2, was the resonant harmonic of the human
F(t) = P 1 + i cos(2 i f s t + i ) (2) walking load (4 1.856 Hz = 7.4247 Hz), see Fig. 2.
1146 A.V.A. Mello et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 64 (2008) 11421151

Table 3
Human walking characteristics [22]

Activity Velocity Step distance Step frequency (Hz)

(m/s) (m)
Slow walking 1.1 0.6 1.7
Normal 1.5 0.75 2.0
walking
Fast walking 2.2 1.0 2.3

Fig. 4. Footfall force and reaction on the floor structure [24].

Fig. 3. Human walking at the composite floor. actions associated to the time function will be correctly applied
to the structure.
In this particular load model, the finite element mesh had
to be very refined and the contact time of application of the 3.4. Fourth load model
dynamic load with the floor depends of the step distance and
The fourth representation of walking loads considered the
step frequency, see Table 3 [22].
same trends adopted in the previous model. The main difference
In this case, the following strategy was adopted: the step of this model was the incorporation of the human heel effect,
distance corresponding to the fourth harmonic with step amplifying the load actions, on this particular load model. This
frequency of 1.856 Hz is equal to 0.68 m, as presented in particular mathematical model, defined by Eqs. (3)(6), was
Tables 2 and 3 [22]. The step period is equal to 1/ f = previously proposed by Varela [23] and is also a numerical
1/1.856 Hz = 0.540 s, corresponding to the distance of approach to evaluate the floor structure reaction [24], as shown
0.68 m. This way, the modelling considered four forces to in the Fig. 4.
model one human step and each one of the loads P1, P2, P3 According to Varela [23], the proposed mathematical
and P4 were applied on the structure during 0.540/3 = 0.18 s, function, Eqs. (3)(6), used to represent the dynamic actions
corresponding to a contact time of each dynamic load, as produced by people walking on floor slabs is not a Fourier
illustrated in Fig. 3. series simply because the equation also incorporates, in its
However, the dynamic forces were not applied at the same formulation, the heel impact effect.
time. The first applied load should be P1, according to Eq. In the present investigation the adopted heel impact factor
(2), by 0.18 s, and at the end of this time period, the load P1 was 1.12 ( f mi = 1.12) but it must be emphasized that this
becomes zero and the load P2 is subsequently applied for 0.18 s. value can quite vary from person-to-person [23,24]. Fig. 5
This process occurs successively till all dynamic actions are illustrates the dynamic load function for an individual walking
applied along the structure, see Fig. 3, where it can be noticed at 7.424 Hz, based on Eqs. (3)(6).
that all the dynamic loads associated to the time function will 
f mi Fm P

be correctly applied to the composite floor. t+P if 0 t < 0.04T p


0.04T
" p #
However, the dynamic forces P1 to P4 were not


C1 t 0.04T p


if 0.04T p t < 0.06T p

f mi Fm + 1
simultaneously applied. The load application begins with the




0.02T p
first step where the first load P1 is applied for 0.18 s, according F(t) = Fm if 0.06T p t < 0.15T p
nh

to Eq. (2). At the end of this time period, the load P1 becomes
X
P sen 2i f c t + 0.1T p + i if 0.15T p t < 0.90T p



P+
zero while the load P2 is subsequently applied for 0.18 s. The



i=1  
process continues with the application of the other loads, P3 10 (P C ) . t 1 + P

if 0.90T p t < T p

2
to P4, according to the same procedure previously described, Tp
until the end of the first step. At this point, the load P4 from (3)
the first step is made equal to the load P1 of the second step. where:
The process continues with subsequent step applications until
all dynamic loads are applied along the entire structure length, Fm : maximum value of the Fourier series, given by Eq. (4);
as presented in Fig. 3. It can be noticed that all the dynamic f mi : heel-impact factor;
 A.V.A. Mello et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 64 (2008) 11421151 1147

Fig. 7. Composite floor cross-section.

Fig. 5. Fourth load model. Dynamic load function for a single person walking.

Fig. 8. Finite element model.

Figs. 6 and 7. For all analysed structural models, the

parametric analysis was performed keeping constant the span,
denominated L g (see Fig. 6), equal to 9 m, and varying the
span denominated L j (see Fig. 6), from 5 to 10 m. The girders
and beams are constituted by steel sections with dimensions
Fig. 6. Structural system layout. presented in Table 4.
The steel sections used were welded wide flanges (WWF)
Tp : step period;
made with a 300 MPa yield stress steel grade. A 2.05105 MPa
C1 : coefficients given by Eq. (5);
Youngs modulus was adopted for the steel beams. The concrete
C2 : coefficients given by Eq. (6).
slab has a 25 MPa specified compression strength and a 2.4
! 104 MPa Youngs modulus. Table 4 depicts the geometrical
nh
X characteristics of all the steel sections used in the structural
Fm = P 1 + i (4) model.
i=1
  The modelling strategy also assumed that an individual
1 human weight was equal to 700 N (0.7 kN) [7]. In this study, a
C1 = 1 (5)
f mi damping ratio, = 0.03, was considered for all the structural

P (1 2 ) if nh = 3 systems. Table 2 presented the dynamic coefficients and phase
C2 = (6) angles used in this load model.
P (1 2 + 4 ) if nh = 4.
5. Computational model
4. Structural model
The proposed computational model, developed for the
The composite floors studied in this work, simply supported composite floors dynamic analysis, used the usual mesh
by columns at its extremities, are currently submitted to refinement techniques present in finite element method
human walking loads. The structural systems are constituted simulations implemented in the ANSYS program [1].
of composite girders and a 150 mm thick concrete slab, as In this computational model, the floor steel girders are
presented in Figs. 6 and 7, respectively. represented by three-dimensional beam elements considering
The composite floors geometry investigated in this paper flexural and torsion effects. The composite slab is made of shell
(plan and beams cross-section properties), is presented in finite elements, as depicted in Fig. 8.
1148 A.V.A. Mello et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 64 (2008) 11421151

Table 4
Geometrical characteristics of the beam and columns steel sections
Beams Height (mm) Flange width (mm) Top flange thickness (mm) Bottom flange thickness (mm) Web thickness (mm)
VS I 550 64 550 250 9.5 9.5 6.3
VS I 450 51 450 200 9.5 9.5 6.3

Columns Height (mm) Flange width (mm) Top flange thickness (mm) Bottom flange thickness (mm) Web thickness (mm)

CS I 300 62 300 300 9.5 9.5 8.0

Table 5
Composite floors natural frequencies

L j (m) f 01 (Hz) f 02 (Hz) f 03 (Hz) f 04 (Hz) f 05 (Hz) f 06 (Hz)

5.0 9.35 18.18 23.56 32.00 44.61 47.86
5.5 8.82 17.11 21.01 28.30 40.02 42.64
6.0 8.33 16.20 18.80 25.18 36.31 38.37
6.5 7.86 15.40 16.88 22.54 33.30 34.83
7.0 7.42 14.70 15.23 20.32 30.82 31.86
7.5 7.00 13.79 14.07 18.46 28.77 29.35
8.0 6.60 12.54 13.50 16.88 27.07 27.20
8.5 6.21 11.46 12.97 15.56 25.36 25.64
9.0 5.84 10.51 12.48 14.44 23.76 24.44
9.5 5.49 9.67 12.03 13.50 22.36 23.41
10.0 5.15 8.94 11.60 12.69 21.13 22.53

6. Dynamical analysis

For practical purposes, a linear time-domain analysis was

performed throughout this study [25,26]. This section presents
the evaluation of the composite floor vibration levels when
submitted to dynamic excitations produced by human walking.
The composite floors dynamic responses were determined
through an analysis of its natural frequencies, displacements,
velocities and accelerations. The results of the dynamic analysis
were obtained from an extensive parametric analysis, based on
the finite element method using the ANSYS program [1].
With the objective of evaluating quantitative and qualita-
tively the obtained results according to the proposed analysis
methodology, the composite floors maximum accelerations val-
ues were calculated by the four developed computational load
models and was later compared to the results present in current
structural design codes [2,3]. This comparison was performed
to evaluate the possible occurrence of unwanted excessive vi-
bration levels and human discomfort. Fig. 9. Mode shape associated to the first natural frequency: f 01 = 7.42 Hz.

6.1. Natural frequencies and mode vibrations
Based on the performed parametric analysis, the composite
floors natural frequencies were determined, as presented in
Table 5. The floor vibration modes with beam spans equal to
7 m (L j = 7 m see Fig. 6) are illustrated from Figs. 9 to 14.
The results depicted on these figures indicated that there was a
good agreement between the numerical value of the composite
floor fundamental frequency (L j = 7 m see Fig. 6),
f 01 = 7.42 Hz, obtained by the finite element model, and
those obtained from the technical literature [2], as illustrated
in Table 5.
Table 5 results clearly indicated that the structural systems
stiffness decreases with a span increase, reducing, as expected,
the composite floors natural frequencies. These results also
indicated that when the floor span increases some of these
structures can become vulnerable to low forcing frequencies
and undesirable vibrations.
6.2. Peak accelerations
The present analysis proceeded with the evaluation of
the composite floors performance in terms of vibration
serviceability due to human walking. The first step of this
procedure concerned the determination of the floor peak
accelerations. The peak accelerations were determined based
on the developed finite element model (FEM). These maximum
 A.V.A. Mello et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 64 (2008) 11421151 1149

Table 6
Composite floors peak accelerations at resonance

L j (m) 1st load model 2nd load 3rd load model 3rd load model 4th load model 4th load model AISC ISO 5%g
(m/s2 ) model (m/s2 ) path 1 (m/s2 ) path 2 (m/s2 ) path 1 (m/s2 ) path 2 (m/s2 ) [2] (m/s2 ) [3] (m/s2 )
5.0 0.019 0.034 0.065 0.083 0.100 0.132 0.033
5.5 0.032 0.037 0.080 0.073 0.128 0.104 0.038
6.0 0.031 0.037 0.103 0.086 0.104 0.111 0.042
6.5 0.029 0.032 0.073 0.092 0.114 0.089 0.047
7.0 0.027 0.033 0.083 0.092 0.098 0.108 0.051
7.5 0.026 0.031 0.094 0.074 0.115 0.105 0.056 0.049
8.0 0.049 0.054 0.115 0.092 0.123 0.123 0.060
8.5 0.047 0.052 0.110 0.103 0.103 0.128 0.064
9.0 0.044 0.049 0.106 0.115 0.116 0.117 0.067
9.5 0.042 0.047 0.107 0.104 0.101 0.116 0.070
10.0 0.039 0.044 0.114 0.086 0.113 0.111 0.073

Fig. 10. Mode shape associated to the second natural frequency: f 02 =

14.70 Hz.

Fig. 12. Mode shape associated to the fourth natural frequency: f 04 =

20.32 Hz.

The four load models previously described were applied

Fig. 11. Mode shape associated to the third natural frequency: f 03 = 15.23 Hz.
accelerations were then compared to results supplied by design
criteria [2,3], see Table 6.
to the composite floors to determine the peak acceleration
considering the variation of the beams span denominated L j
(see Fig. 6) from 5 to 10 m.
It is important to mention that the peak accelerations
evaluated by the simplified procedure have a linear behaviour
based on the beams span variation. In other words, the increase
in the peak acceleration values is proportional to the increase of
the beams span, according to AISC [2], see Table 6.
Considering all four implemented load models, the
composite floors structural behaviour when subjected to
the dynamic actions induced by people walking has been
diversified, i.e., peak accelerations increase or decrease, in
some cases (see Table 6), with an increase of the composite
floors span.
In this particular situation, the peak accelerations did not
follow a linear behaviour. This fact can be explained by
the interaction between the load models with very different
dynamic characteristics such as mass and stiffness, associated
to each structural model.
1150 A.V.A. Mello et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 64 (2008) 11421151
Fig. 13. Mode shape associated to the fifth natural frequency: f 05 = 30.82 Hz.
Fig. 14. Mode shape associated to the sixth natural frequency: f 06 = 31.86 Hz.
The peak accelerations calculated by the AISC [2] simplified
method are always higher than those obtained with the first
load model. This fact indicated that the simplified method [2]
produce safe values, as shown in Table 6.
The peak accelerations values presented in the Table 6 have
shown that, for all analysed composite floors, the second load
model produced accelerations values always higher than those
related to the first load model. The results indicated that the four
harmonics are very important to the floors dynamic response.
When the third and fourth load models are applied to the
all analysed composite floors, the accelerations were higher
than those associated to the first and second load models. This
fact emphasizes that when the position of the dynamic loading,
corresponding to the excitation induced by people walking
changed, according to the individual position, and there is a
substantial increase in the structure dynamic response.
When the fourth load model is applied to the studied
composite floors, using a heel impact factor of 1.12 ( f mi =
1.12), the peak accelerations are higher than those produced by
using the third load model.
According to the design criteria proposed by AISC [2]
and ISO [3] and based on the results produced by the first
and second load models, all structural systems analysed in
this investigation did not present problems related to human
comfort, Table 6. On the other hand, considering the peak
acceleration values for floors associated to vibrations due to
human activities recommended by AISC [2] and ISO [3], all
structural models have presented problems related to human
comfort when the third and fourth load models were used,
Table 6.
7. Final remarks
This paper presented an initial contribution for the
evaluation of the structural behaviour of composite floors
subjected to dynamic excitations induced by human walking.
The present investigation was carried out based on a more
realistic load model. In this particular load model, the leg
motion that cause an ascent and descend movement of the
effective mass of the human body in each passing was
considered. The position of the dynamic loading is also changed
according to the individual position and the generated time
function, corresponding to the excitation induced by people
walking, having a space and time description.
An extensive parametric analysis was made considering the
dynamic behaviour, in terms of serviceability limit states, of
several composite floors made with a composite slab system
with welded wide flange, steel beams and a 150 mm thick
concrete slab.
The composite floors dynamic response in terms of peak
accelerations was obtained and compared to the limit values
proposed by the AISC [2] and ISO [3]. The results of the present
investigation have shown that AISC [2] parameters are good
design criteria only when the first load model was considered.
However, when the position of the dynamical load was changed
according to the individual position, represented by the third
and fourth load models, the peak accelerations were higher than
AISC [2] and ISO [3] limit values.
The third and fourth load models incorporate a more realistic
load in which the position of the dynamic action is changed
according to the individual position. Another important point
is related with the fact that the generated time function has
a space and time description and that the fourth load model
also considered the effect of the human heel impact. On the
other hand, the AISC [2] recommendations only considered
one harmonic applied in the middle of the main span of the
pedestrian footbridge, without varying the load position.
The results obtained in this investigation have clearly shown
the importance of further investigation based on an extensive
 A.V.A. Mello et al. / Journal of Constructional Steel Research 64 (2008) 11421151
parametric study considering other design parameters such
as: floor thickness, structural damping and beam cross-section
geometrical properties.
Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support
provided by the Brazilian National and State Scientific
and Technological Developing Agencies: CNPq, CAPES and
FAPERJ.
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