Modern construction materials often result in lightweight floor systems susceptible to transient motion imparted by the input forcing function of human locomotion. Technologies intended to control this phenomena must quantify the forcing function and efficient vibration damping methods. The research will quantify the input forcing function of locomotion as a truncated Fourier Series whose coefficients are related to human physical characteristics. Extrapolation using ergonomic indices will then create a statistically based description of population locomotive trends suitable for rational structural design recommendations. The second phase of research will investigate the properties of the human body which make it an efficient damper. Experimental data will be collected from floors using humans as passive or active second mass dampers. Existing mathematical simulations will be used to analytically explain the body's damping potential. Finally, a mechanical device will be developed which emulates human body properties to control unwanted floor motion through artificially increased damping. The research will permit lightweight floor systems to operate at their true design potential, unhampered by vibration serviceability considerations. It will also ascertain analytical methods of design based on input forcing functions which are in turn based on ergonomic population means.
