Modal Testing and Finite-Element Model Updating of a Lively Open-Plan Composite Building Floor

This paper presents results of a combined experimental and analytical approach to investigate modal properties of a lively open-plan office floor. It is based on state-of-the-art finite-element (FE) modeling, FRF-based shaker modal testing, FE model correlation, manual model tuning, and sensitivity-based automatic model updating of a detailed FE model of this composite floor structure. The floor studied accommodates a fully furnished office. Such environments can be problematic regarding their vibration serviceability. However, there is a lack of reliable information about their as-built modal properties and the ability of designers to predict them. Therefore this paper has two aims: (1) to assess the ability to both predict and measure as accurately as possible the fundamental and higher modes of floor vibration, and (2) to correlate and update the initially developed FE model of the floor, so that its modes match as accurately as possible their measured counterparts. It was found that even a very detail...