GSA Training Notes

Footfall Analysis

1 Introduction
Footfall analysis (or in full footfall induced vibration analysis) is a dynamic response analysis to
evaluate the vertical responses of a building subjected to the action of human footfall loads. The
responses from footfall analysis include nodal accelerations, nodal velocities and response factors etc.
The human footfalls are considered as periodical dynamic loads that are decomposed into a number of
harmonic components according to Fourier series theory. For each of the harmonic components of the
footfall loads, a harmonic analysis is conducted using modal superposition method based on the results
of modal dynamic analysis. Adding the responses obtained for each of the harmonic components of
the footfall loads, the total responses of the from for the footfall loads can be obtained. For detailed
description and theory of the footfall analysis, please refer to Footfall Analysis Theory section of GSA
manual or reference 1 listed at the end of this note.

2 Response factor
Response factor is the most interested results from footfall analysis. It will be used to evaluate the
dynamic responses to determine whether the responses are acceptable for the use of the buildings. The
response factor is a measure of disturbance level to humans because of the vibration of the building
excited by footfall loads. The response factor is the ratio of acceleration response (normally the root-
mean-square of the acceleration) to the benchmark acceleration or the ratio of velocity response
(normally the root-mean-square of velocity) to the benchmark velocity. The benchmark acceleration
and benchmark velocity can be found from relevant design codes or standards such as BS6472:1992
(Guide to evaluation of human exposure to vibration in buildings). An example of the benchmark
accelerations is shown in the Fig 1 below. It shows that the human perception to the vibration is not
only dependent on the absolute level of the acceleration but also dependent on the frequency of the
vibration. It also shows that humans are more sensitive to the vibration in the frequency range
between 4 and 8 Hz. Because of this, it is more appropriate to use response factors rather than the
absolute value of acceleration to evaluate a building for footfall induced responses. That is why the
response factor is introduced because it is frequency independent.

3 Acceptance levels of footfall responses

Human perception or tolerance level to structural vibration varies from individuals to individuals, i.e. a
certain level of vibration may cause disturbance to a certain group of people, but the same level of
vibration may be felt comfortably by a different group of people, so the general acceptance level of
responses given by some standards are a general guidance that suitable for majority of people. A
general indication of human perceptions to the acceleration response is summarized in Fig 2.
According to this, the acceptable levels of response factors are defined that are dependent on the use of
the buildings. A summary of the recommended acceptance level of the response factors from BS6472
is given in the Table 1.
After the response factors of the building have been calculated from footfall analysis in GSA, they
should be compared with the acceptance levels of the response factor for the use of the building. If the
maximum response factor is lower than the acceptance level, the responses of the building may be
acceptable, otherwise further treatments (e.g. adjust stiffness and/or mass or apply damping etc) to
reduce the vibration of the building may be required. For detailed guidance of the acceptance of the
responses, please refer to relevant design codes or consult experts in this field.

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 Table 1 Example of acceptance levels of response factor

Place Time Exposure to continuous vibration

Hospital operating theatres & Day 1

precision laboratories Night 1
Day 2 to 4
Residential
Night 1.4
Day 4
Office
Night 4
Day 8
Workshops
Night 8

Fig 1 Benchmark acceleration from BS6472

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 Fig 2 Generate indication of human perception to structural acceleration

4 Modelling of structures for footfall analysis

Footfall analysis utilizes and relies on modal dynamic analysis results, so the modeling of a structure
for footfall analysis is similar to modal dynamic analysis and they can be found from GSA help. The
followings are some tips for modeling a building for footfall analysis.

4.1 Whole model vs floor model

In order to simplify footfall analysis, it is common to model a single floor of a building for footfall
analysis especially for large buildings or the buildings with identical floors. However, if a building is
relatively small in size, it is also appropriate to model the whole building for footfall analysis as it will
give more accurate results.

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4.2 Stiffness consideration of the modelling
Structural stiffness affects the natural frequencies so as to the footfall responses. It is crucial to model
the stiffness correctly and the followings are a brief guide on this.
• Inclusion of column in floor modelling
o Include columns above and below the floor for accuracy if possible
o Ignore columns for simplicity if column-to-beam connections are pin or column stiffness
is relatively small compared with beam (e.g. large span floor)
• Column-to-beam connections
o Assumed they are fixed if they are not truly pin
o Use Pin connection for those are truly pinned
• Concrete Young’s modulus (see also reference 2)
o Normal weight – 38 GPa
o Light weight – 22 GPa

4.3 Mass consideration

Mass to be considered in footfall analysis is the same as that used in modal dynamic analysis, so it
should be considered when doing the modal dynamic analysis. Typically the mass includes building
self-weight, fixed equipment/furniture and live loads that would present at the time footfall responses
are evaluated, typically a small percentage of total live loads. Structural self-weight and fixed
equipment/furniture should all be included in modal dynamic analysis. Normally 10% of the live
loads need to be included as building mass. Do not overestimate or underestimate the mass as its
effect on the footfall response is unknown before doing the analysis. If some non-structural masses
may vary considerably during the life time of the building, it may be wise to evaluate the footfall
response using various levels of non-structural masses, which means that to conduct footfall analyses
using different modal analysis results that uses different masses.

4.4 Damping consideration

Increasing damping will reduce the footfall responses, so do not overestimate the damping in footfall
analysis. In general 3% critical damping ratio may be used for composite or RC floors with partitions
and 1% critical damping ratio may be used for bare steel floor. To get the correct damping value for a
particular building, it needs to refer to relevant design codes or consult experts in this field.

5 Doing footfall analysis in GSA

Footfall analysis utilizes modal dynamic analysis results and footfall analysis can only be carried out
after at least one modal dynamic analysis has been conducted. As the range of walking frequency to
be considered for footfall analysis is 1.0 to 2.8 Hz (Concrete Centre method) and only 4 harmonic
components of the footfall loads are significant and are considered in footfall analysis, the sensitive
frequencies of the structure to footfall loads will be from 1 to 11.2 Hz. In order to include all the
sensitive frequencies of the structure in footfall analysis to get reliable results, the number of modes in
modal dynamic analysis should cover all the frequencies include and up to 11.2 Hz (or 15 Hz
commonly used in practice).
Similar to other GSA analysis, footfall analysis can be conducted through analysis wizard. The
parameters required for footfall analysis in the analysis wizard are.
• Modal analysis task – The modal dynamic analysis to be used in footfall analysis. If more than
one is available, the correct one should be chosen.
• Excitation method
o Self excitation – exciting the response node only for calculating its responses. In this case,
the analysis is faster, but the results are not as accurate as those from full excitation.

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 o Full excitation (rigorous) – exciting all the nodes defined in excitation node list to calculate
the responses for a response node. The analysis is slower, but results are accurate.
o Full excitation (fast) – Similar to rigorous full excitation, but a search technique is used, so
the analysis is faster than rigorous full excitation, but results are not as accurate as rigorous
full excitation especially for lower response regions.
• Response nodes – Node list to define the nodes (representing areas or regions) that the footfall
responses will be calculated. The nodes of the structure not included in this list will be ignored
in footfall response calculation.
• Excitation nodes – Node list to define the nodes (representing areas or regions) that will be
excited in footfall analysis. It is not required if self excitation option is chosen.
• Damping ratio – Define the critical damping ratio for each of the modes of modal dynamic
analysis. There are three ways to define the damping ratio
o Constant for all modes – Define a constant damping ratio for all the modes
o Damping from modal analysis – if damping has been calculated in modal analysis, this
option can be chosen to use the damping calculated in modal analysis for footfall analysis
o Damping frequency relationship table – If some modes have special damping ratio, they
can be defined in a damping table. Using this option to utilise the damping ratio defined in
the damping table. If the damping of a mode has not been defined in the damping table, the
constant damping ratio defined in the wizard will be used
• Number of footfalls – the number of footfalls to be considered in footfall analysis. The higher
the number of footfalls, the more likely that the full resonant response will be achieved. The
number of footfalls is normally equals to the length of the floor divided by the length of
footstep.
• The walker – define the mass or weight of the person that will walk on the floor
• Excitation forces (DLFs – Dynamic Load Factors) – This defines the way of the structure to be
excited, the options are:
o Walking on floor (Arup) – Walking on floor using Arup method
o Walking on floor (SCI P354) – Walking on floor using SCI (Steel Construction Institute)
method
o Walking on stairs (Arup) – walking on stairs using Arup method
o Walking on stairs (SCI P354) – walking on stairs using SCI (Steel Construction Institute)
method
o Walking on floor (AISC SDGS 11) – Walking on floor using AISC Steel Design Guide
Series 11 method
o Use user defined Dynamic Load Factor, this is a reference to the record in the Dynamic
Load Factor table. If the dynamic load factors are known for a particular type activity, e.g.
a group of people dancing on the floor, this method can be used.
• Walking frequencies – Define the range of walking frequencies

6 Results of footfall analysis

Two different types of response analysis are actually conducted in footfall analysis and they are
resonant responses and transient responses. The two types of analyses are explained in Footfall
Analysis Theory section of GSA help.
The results of resonant analysis include:
• Maximum response factor – maximum response factor of the response nodes

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 • Peak acceleration – Peak acceleration of the response nodes
• Critical node – the excitation node that gives the largest response factor for the response node
• Critical walking frequency – the walking frequency that gives largest response factor for the
response node
The results of transient analysis include:
• Maximum response factor – maximum response factor of the response nodes
• Peak velocity – Peak velocity of the response nodes
• RMS velocity – Root-Mean-Square velocity of the response node
• RMQ velocity – Root-Mean-Quad velocity of the response node
• Critical node – the excitation node that gives the largest response factor for the response node
• Critical walking frequency – the walking frequency that gives largest response factor for the
response node
These results can be viewed as contours, diagrams or from the output tables that can be opened in the
same way as other results.

Some special results of footfall analysis can also be shown on Chart View. Chart View is a line plot of
one particular result versus another, e.g. response factor versus walking frequency and velocity versus
time etc. Chart view for footfall analysis can be opened from menu item “View | New Chart View |
Footfall Analysis”. The footfall analysis results that can be shown on Chart View are:
• Resonant analysis
o Response factor versus walking frequency
o Acceleration versus harmonic forcing frequency
o Dynamic factor versus forcing frequency
o Participation factor versus modes
• Transient analysis
o Velocity versus walking frequency
o Velocity versus time
o Participation factor versus modes

References:
1 Willford, M.R. & Young, P. (2006) A Design Guide for Footfall Induced Vibration of
Structures, The Concrete Centre, CCIP-016
2 Smith, A.L., Hicks, S.J., & Devine, P.J. (2007) Design of Floors for Vibration: A New
Approach, The Steel Construction Institute, P354
3 AISC Steel Design Guide Series, Floor Vibration Due to Human Activity

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February 2010 © Oasys Ltd, 2010