Modeling, designing, and testing low frequency impact isolation solutions for building structures with fitness centers above grade

Abstract

There is a trend for fitness centers to find a quick, inexpensive occupancy and ideal location in a vacant office or retail space, often above grade. The tenants sharing the building structure are then subjected to sudden airborne noise and structureborne vibration from the impact energy generated by heavy weights being dropped onto the floor. Because of this trend there is a need to analyze the large, low frequency, shock generated energies that travel through the structure. This paper will discuss the process of designing an experimental floor assembly and apparatus to test weight drops, developing a modeling program to simulate weight drops using three degrees of freedom, which can be tailored to varying isolation solutions, and the means of physically testing the results.