An evaluation of the dynamical performance of composite slabs

The competitive trends of the world market have long been forcing structural engineers to develop minimum weight and labour cost solutions. A direct consequence of this new design trend is a considerable increase in problems related to unwanted floor vibrations. This phenomenon is very frequent in a wide range of structures subjected to rhythmic dynamical load actions. These load actions are generally caused by human rhythmic activities such as: musical and or sporting events, dance or even gymnastics. The main objective of this paper is to investigate the structural behaviour of commonly used composite floors subjected to rhythmic dynamical load actions identifying the occurrence of unwanted vibrations that could cause human discomfort or, in extreme cases, structural failure.