Evaluation of the Dynamic Behavior of Steel Staircases with Concrete-Filled Pan Treads
Publication: Journal of Architectural Engineering
Volume 27, Issue 2
Abstract
Vibration serviceability of staircases is an increasing challenge due to evolving materials and structural forms. To predict the dynamic performance of staircases, accurate models are required. However, few technical guides are available for designing steel staircases, and those that exist are often limited in their applications due to a lack of research. This research aimed to improve the understanding and accuracy of the global vibration response (natural frequencies and mode shapes) predictions of concrete-filled pan tread stairs. In this project, experimental data were collected on two types of staircases and then used to create and tune a finite-element model using shell and beam elements. Using the experimentally updated finite-element model, a parametric study was conducted varying the railing mass and boundary conditions to demonstrate their effects on the staircases’ dynamic behavior. AISC design guide procedures were used to assess their applicability for staircases with wall- versus face-stringer boundary conditions. Finally, design suggestions for engineers are provided.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
The research presented in this study was financially supported by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction. This support is gratefully acknowledged.
Notation
The following symbols are used in this paper:
- E = Es
- stringer elastic modulus;
- fn
- fundamental natural frequency;
- g
- gravitational acceleration;
- It
- stringer moment of inertia;
- k
- stiffness;
- L = Ls
- length of stringer;
- m
- mass;
- W = Ws
- weight of stair; and
- ωn
- natural circular frequency.
References
Bishop, N. W. M., M. Willford, and R. Pumphrey. 1995. “Human induced loading of flexible staircases.” Saf. Sci. 18 (4): 261–276. https://doi.org/10.1016/0925-7535(94)00035-2.
Chopra, A. K. 2012. Dynamics of structures. 4th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Davis, B., and O. Avci. 2015. “Simplified vibration serviceability evaluation of slender monumental stairs.” J. Struct. Eng. 141 (11): 04015017. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ST.1943-541X.0001256.
Davis, B., and T. M. Murray. 2009. “Slender monumental stair vibration serviceability.” J. Archit. Eng. 15 (4): 111–121. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1076-0431(2009)15:4(111).
Davis, B., and Salmon, J. 2019. “Structural vibration serviceability.” Modern Steel Construction, December 16–21.
Kerr, S. C., and N. W. M. Bishop. 2001. “Human induced loading on flexible staircases.” Eng. Struct. 23 (1): 37–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0141-0296(00)00020-1.
Kim, S. B., Y. H. Lee, A. Scanlon, H. Kim, and K. Hong. 2008. “Experimental assessment of vibration serviceability of stair systems.” J. Constr. Steel Res. 64 (2): 253–259. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcsr.2007.07.003.
Kim, S.-Y., C.-H. Lee, and N.-E. Kim. 2016. “Effective impulse model for prediction of vibration response of high-frequency steel staircases.” J. Constr. Steel Res. 126: 129–138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcsr.2016.07.004.
Murray, T., D. Allen, and E. Ungar. 1997. Steel design guide series 11: Floor vibrations due to human activity. Chicago: American Institute of Steel Construction.
Murray, T., D. Allen, E. Ungar, and D. Davis. 2016. Steel design guide series 11: Vibrations of steel-framed structural systems due to human activity. 2nd edn. Chicago: American Institute of Steel Construction.
Santos, J., P. Andrade, and P. Escòrcio. 2019. “Pre-design of laterally supported stair steps.” Eng. Struct. 182: 51–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2018.12.018.
Sondag, T. 2020. “Evaluation of the dynamic behavior of steel staircases with concrete filled pan treads.” M.S. thesis, Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction, Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Architectural Engineering
Volume 27 • Issue 2 • June 2021
Copyright
© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 11, 2020
Accepted: Dec 29, 2020
Published online: Mar 17, 2021
Published in print: Jun 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Aug 17, 2021
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.