Paradigm shift in structural vibration serviceability: New assessment framework based on human’s experience of vibration

Reliable assessment of structural vibration serviceability during the design process is still a great challenge for the designers of pedestrian structures, such as footbridges and floors. Witness to this is the report of the UK Institution of Structural Engineers that approximately half of its 27,000 members, worldwide, have dealt with vibration serviceability complains related to the code-compliant designs. Although structures are meant to be designed to provide function/comfort for human users, evaluation of the ‘experience’ of the human users is conspicuously absent from structural design guidelines. This paper highlights the distinctive features of the Interaction-based Vibration Serviceability Assessment (I-VSA) method, proposed by the authors, and compares the results of the I-VSA with those of the current guidelines for two full-scale structures. It further proposes that: (1) the level of vibrations received by human users is a significantly more informative design parameter than maximum response levels at a certain locating on the structure, which may or may not be experienced; and (2) a deep understanding of the ‘perception’ of vibration by humans is needed to link the level of vibrations received by the occupants with their ‘experience’ from this vibration.