Impulsive Footfall Response

The most critical response in this type of analysis is for the largest footfall rate, and thus the impulsive analysis can be performed on just the largest footfall rate in the range (the footfall rate still affects the magnitude of the impulse). The analysis is based upon a method in the Concrete Centre’s design guide for vibrations[Willford, M.R. and Young, P., "A Design Guide for Footfall Induced Vibration of Structures", Concrete Centre, 2006]. The method calculates a complete time history velocity curve, from which a time history acceleration curve can be derived. All modes with natural frequencies up to twice the fundamental frequency are considered in the analysis.