Vibroacoustic performance of a mass timber cassette floor through mock-up tests

Abstract

Though cross laminated timber slab floors are being used increasingly in mass timber construction, solid mass timber slab floors are limited to short-to-medium span applications. The sound insulation performance of solid mass timber slab floors is often achieved through assemblies on the floor surface as exposed wood ceilings are often prefered by achitects and occupants. A mass timber cassete floor system has been recently designed and tested for its structural, vibrational and acoustical performance. This paper reports the vibroacoustic performance of the proprietary floor system through mock-up building tests. In particular, the natural frequency and mode shapes of the floor under 200 Hz was measured by experimental modal tests. The effect of floating concrete topping on the dynamic properties of the floor was assessed by experimental modal testing. The impact sound insulation performance of the bare cassette floor was first measured, and then with floating concrete toppings. The airborne sound insulation performance of a partition wall was measured to reveal the effect of flanking sound casued by the exposed continous mass timber ceiling. Detailed results will be presented in the full paper.