Formula for Equivalent Impulsive Force to Predict Vibrational Response of High-frequency Staircases

High-frequency staircases are widely used nowadays to meet aesthetics and functionality needed in modern architecture. Unfortunately, no design guide is available in domestic practice to predict response or evaluate the vibration performance of high-frequency staircases. SCI-P354 published by the Steel Construction Institute of UK provides the formula for effective impulsive force. However, this formula was shown to overestimate the response of high-frequency staircases excited by fast ascending and descending over 2.2Hz pace frequency because it was developed based on the walking test in a slow pace frequency. This study proposes a semi-analytical formula to predict the response of stiff staircases based on analytical and experimental studies of response acceleration for various walking frequencies covering 1.4~4.5Hz.