Concrete upgrade to improve the vibration response of timber floors

Abstract

Timber floors suffering from poor serviceability performance can be upgraded with a concrete topping to form a timber–concrete composite. The upgrade stiffens the floor, reducing the perception of a vibration response to dynamic excitation. Despite timber–concrete composites becoming an established research area in recent years, relatively little is known about the vibration response of these floor types. This paper explores how the vibration response of a timber floor changes when upgraded with a concrete topping, with particular attention given to the fundamental frequency of vibration. An analytical model, utilising the gamma method of Eurocode 5 (EN 1995-1-1), is used to predict how the fundamental frequency of vibration changes with the addition of a topping. The model is compared with experimental testing of timber–concrete panels before it is used to conduct a parametric study to establish the effect of common factors. It is found that high interaction between the topping and timber floor, identifying a suitable topping thickness and considering the change in transverse stiffness are key to a successful upgrade. It is suggested that topping upgrades which are thin (20 mm or less) are suitable for this application.