Abstract
This paper provides a critical overview of available technology and facilities for determining human-induced dynamic forces of civil engineering structures, such as due to walking, running, jumping and bouncing. In addition to traditional equipment for direct force measurements comprising force plate(s), foot pressure insoles and instrumented treadmills, the review also investigates possibility of using optical motion tracking systems (marker-based and marker-free optoelectronic technology) and non-optical motion tracking systems (inertial sensors) to reproduce contact forces between humans and structures based on body kinematics data and known body mass distribution. Although significant technological advancements have been made in the last decade, the literature survey showed that the state-of-the-art force measurements are often limited to individuals in artificial laboratory environments. Experimental identification of seriously needed group- and crowd-induced force data recorded on as-built structures, such as footbridges, grandstands and floors, still remains a challenge due to the complexity of human actions and the lack of adequate equipment.
Highlights
Human-induced vibrations have become an increasingly critical factor in serviceability and safety aspects of structural design in the last decade
Human-induced excitation of structures derives from the contact force between the feet and the supporting structure, it is generally known as ground reaction force (GRF)
This means that the force measured is the sum of the GRF and the inertia force calculated as effective mass of the force plate connected to the force transducers and its acceleration
Summary
Human-induced vibrations have become an increasingly critical factor in serviceability and safety aspects of structural design in the last decade. The lack of adequate formal design guidance regarding vibration assessment of civil engineering structures when occupied and dynamically excited by people is a consequence of lack of attention paid to this form of loading and lack of fundamental data for many relevant load case scenarios, for group and crowd situations. When compared with other key dynamic loads of civil engineering structures, such as due to waves, wind and earthquakes, the current knowledge about human-induced dynamic loading is still rudimentary. This cross-disciplinary literature survey aims to provide a critical review of the available technology and facilities for experimental characterisation of human-induced dynamic forces and focus on their application in the structural dynamics context. Racic et al / Modern facilities for experimental measurement of dynamic loads induced by humans
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