Vibration Comfort Assessment of a Timber Floor System Based on Measurements and Numerical Analysis

This paper presents an extended combined experimental and numerical study on the vibration comfort assessment of a modern timber-framed public utility building. The research focuses on a lightweight skeleton floor system, representing a typical high-frequency floor. In situ vibration measurements were conducted under various walking excitations (single and multiple pedestrians) to determine key vibration parameters. Post-processing, which yielded root mean square accelerations and velocities, was performed using a custom-developed code in the Mathematica package. A finite element model was prepared in Dlubal RFEM 6 using shell and beam elements with offsets. The dynamic characteristics obtained from the FE modal analysis showed high consistency with the experimental data, with a relative error of approximately 5 % for the fundamental frequency. The vibration comfort was assessed using two distinct methodologies: the JRC report and the SCI P354 guide. Both approaches positively verified the floor’s vibration comfort, confirming its suitability for the intended use. The study demonstrates that the JRC methodology is more straightforward and unambiguous for engineering practice. Furthermore, the results indicate that simplified FE models provide a reliable basis for predicting vibration modes and calculating mode shape factors, which are essential for the correct interpretation of local measurements in existing buildings.