The impact of crossfit training-weight drops on floating floors

Abstract

CrossFit training regimen involves lifting significant weight overhead, and then dropping the weight on the floor. The energy transferred to the floor system can cause severe damage to floor surfaces and structures; and when using a lightweight floating floor system, even the isolators can be damaged. This paper describes a spreadsheet-based analytical model being used to study the effects of such impacts on various floor systems. The model shows that the amount of impact power transferred to the structure is greatly reduced through the use of a floating floor system. Placing resilient tiles on the floating floor surface reduces the impact power transferred to the structural floor surface. As the thickness of the resilient tiles increases, the impact power transferred to the structural floor surface decreases as expected. However, the impact power transferred to the structural floor's building connections actually increases with the increasing thickness of the resilient tiles. This model is a prelude to full scale tests to be conducted in the future.