Review of Live Loads Due to Human Movements
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 112, Issue 5
Abstract
Present U.S. structural engineering practice assumes that live load components due to human occupancy and human movements for the design of assembly structures, such as grandstands, can be represented as statically applied uniform or line loads. A review of code values and procedures reveals a history of theoretical, experimental, empirical, and practical developments and events that provide insight into their sources and meanings. The mechanisms by which they have been implemented should prove to be interesting and informative to the design engineer and others concerned with the modernization of codes. The designer is provided with a perspective of a complex commonly used codified deterministic loading.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Abbey, H. J., “Grandstands for Athletic Fields,” Public Works, Oct., 1936, p. 27.
2.
Allen, D. E., Pernica, G., and Rainer, J. H., “Discussion of Paper by C. Y. Tuan and W. E. Saul, Load Due to Human Movements,” Journal of Structural Engineering, ASCE, to be published.
3.
Allen, D. E., Rainer, J. H., and Pernica, G., “Vibration Criteria for Assembley Occupancies,” Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, Vol. 12, No. 3, Sept., 1985, pp. 617–623.
4.
Bachmann, H., “Vibrations of Building Structures Caused by Human Activities, Case Study of a Gymnasium,” Technical Translation, No. 250 for the Division of Building Research, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, Canada, 1984, 21 pp.
(Original pub. Schiveizer Ingenieur und Architekt, Vol. 101, No. 6, 1983, pp. 104–110.)
5.
Bobrowski, J., Bardham‐Roy, B. K., and Maciaq, T., “The Design and Analysis of Grandstand Structures,” The Structural Engineer, Vol. 52, No. 2, London, England, Feb., 1974, pp. 37–56.
6.
“Code for Construction of Grandstands,” Safety Engineering, Vol. 59, July, 1930, p. 22.
7.
Ebrahimpour, A., et al., “Measuring Dynamic Occupant Loads by Microcomputer,” to be presented at the ASCE Ninth Conference on Electronic Computation, to be held Feb. 23–26, 1986, at Birmingham, Ala., 11 pp.
8.
Editorial, Engineering News, Vol. 29, Mar. 16, 1893, p. 252.
9.
Ellingwood, B., et al., “Development of a Probability Based Load Criterion for American National Standards A58,” NBS Special Publication 577, 1980.
10.
Ellingwood, B., Galambos, T. V., MacGregor, J. G., and Cornell, C. A., “A Probability Based Load Criterion for Structural Design,” Civil Engineering, ASCE, July, 1981, pp. 74–76.
11.
“Engineering Regulations—Quality and Design of the Materials of Construction,” Uniform Building Code, 1985 ed., Part V, Chap. 23, Sec. 2304(a), International Conference of Building Officials, pp. 108–109 and 124–127.
12.
“Experts Submit Safety Code Covering Portable Grandstands,” Industrial Standardization, June, 1934, pp. 111–113.
13.
Greimann, L. F., and Klaiber, F. W., “Dynamic Forces Induced by Spectators,” Journal of the Structural Division, ASCE, Vol. 104, No. ST2, Feb., 1978, pp. 348–351.
14.
“Grandstands Safety in Pennsylvania,” Pennsylvania Labor and Industry Review, Bureau of Industrial Standards, Jan., 1941, pp. 42–43.
15.
“Horizontal Forces Produced by Movements of the Occupants of a Grandstand,” ASA Bulletin, Vol. 3, No. 4, Apr., 1932, pp. 123–126.
16.
“How to Prevent Collapse of Portable Grandstands,” Industrial Standardization, Sept., 1941, pp. 226–228.
17.
Johnson, L. J., “New Data on the Weight of a Crowd of People,” Association of Engineering Societies, Vol. 34, No. 1, Jan., 1905, pp. 1–6;
also discussion of “Structural Design of Buildings,” by G. C. Schneider, Transactions, ASCE, Vol. 54, 1905, pp. 441–446.
18.
“Loads from Moving Crowds,” Field and Office Column, Engineering News, Vol. 75, Apr. 20, 1916, pp. 756–757.
19.
“Minimum Design Load for Buildings and Other Structures,” ANSI A58.1‐1982, American National Standards Institute, New York, N.Y., 1982.
20.
Minimum Live Loads Allowable for Use in Design of Buildings, U.S. Department of Commerce, National Bureau of Standards, 1924.
21.
Moreland, R., “The Weight of a Crowd,” Letter to the Editor, Engineering, Vol. 79, London, England, Apr. 28, 1905, p. 551.
22.
Pernica, G., “Dynamic Live Loads at a Rock Concert,” Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, Vol. 10, No. 2, 1983, pp. 185–191.
23.
“Portable Steel and Wood Grandstands,” ASA Z20.1‐1941, American Standards Association, May 8, 1941, 18 pp.
24.
Ries, L. L., “Removable Steel Stadium for University of Chicago,” Engineering News‐Record, July 5, 1928, pp. 13–15.
25.
Saul, W. E., Tuan, C. Y., and McDonald, B., “Loads Due to Human Movements,” Structural Safety Studies, Symposium Proceedings, J. T. Yao, et al., Eds., Structural Division, ASCE, Denver, Colo., May, 1985, pp. 107–119.
26.
Serby, M. W., The Stadium, AISC Inc., 1930.
27.
“Serviceability Criteria for Deflections and Vibrations,” Supplement to the National Building Code of Canada 1985, Commentary A, Chap. 4, National Research Council of Canada.
28.
“Standard for Assembly Seating, Tents and Air‐Supported Structures,” NFPA 102–1978, National Fire Protection Association, Vol. 5, Sec. 2.5, 1984, pp. 102.11–102.13.
29.
“Standards for Grandstands,” Architectural Record, Vol. 90, Nov., 1941, p. 22.
30.
“Standard for Grandstands, Tents, and Other Places of Outdoor Assembly,” ASA Z20.2‐1946, National Fire Protection Association, 1946.
31.
“Standard for Grandstands, Tents and Other Places of Outdoor Assembly,” ASA Z20.2‐1949, National Fire Protection Association, 1948.
32.
“Standard for Places of Outdoor Assembly—Grandstands and Tents,” ASA Z20.3‐1950, No. 102, National Fire Protection Association, 1949.
33.
Stevenson, R., “Description of Bridges of Suspension,” The Edinburgh Philosophical Journal, Vol. 5, No. 10, Oct., 1821, pp. 237–256.
34.
“The Dynamic Effect of Moving Floor Loads—Stress Measured in the Floor and Balcony of a College Gymnasium,” Engineering News Record, Vol. 93, No. 6, Aug. 7, 1924, p. 231;
also American Architect and The Architectural Review, Vol. 126, Nov. 5, 1924, pp. 455–456.
35.
Tilden, C. J., “Kinetic Effects of Crowds,” Proceedings, ASCE, Vol. 34, No. 3, Mar., 1913, pp. 325–340;
also Transactions, ASCE, Vol. 76, 1913, pp. 2107–2122;
also “Kinetic Effects of Crowds—The Forces Due to Movements of Live Loads,” Scientific American Supplement, Vol. 76, Sept. 13, 1913, pp. 172–175.
36.
Tuan, C. Y., and Saul, W. E., “Loads Due to Spectator Movements,” Journal of Structural Engineering, Vol. 111, No. 2, Feb., 1985, pp. 418–434.
37.
Tuan, Y.‐B., “Loads Due to Human Movements on Assembly Structures,” thesis presented to the Univ. of Wisconsin, at Madison, Wisc., in 1983, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
38.
“Uniformly Distributed Live Loads,” Sec. 906.0 and “Assembly Structures,” Sec. 908.5, BOCA Basic Building Code 1981, 9th ed., Building Officials and Code Administrators, Inc., Chicago, Ill., 1980.
39.
Wade, S., “Loading Code Too Low For Who,” New Civil Engineer, Vol. 26, Mar., 1981.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
Copyright © 1986 ASCE.
History
Published online: May 1, 1986
Published in print: May 1986
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.