Pilot study to examine use of transverse vibration nondestructive evaluation for assessing floor systems

Zhiyong Cai, Robert J. Ross, Michael O. Hunt, Lawrence A. Soltis

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Evaluation of existing timber structures requires procedures to evaluate in situ structural members and components. This report evaluates the transverse vibration response of laboratory-built floor systems with new and salvaged joists. The objectives were to 1) compare floor system response to individual member response; 2) examine response sensitivity to location of the forcing function; and 3) compare the response of a floor constructed with new joists to that of a floor constructed with a combination of new and salvaged joists. Several floor systems were constructed from new and salvaged southern pine joists and tested using transverse vibration nondestructive evaluation techniques. The results indicate that joist response, and therefore joist stiffness, can be determined from a system approach with arbitrary location of the impact forcing function. The joist response is greatly dependent on the magnitude and location of the dead load it supports. The frequency of the floor system was reduced when salvaged joists were included in the system. But, it does not appear that individual degraded joists in the system can be detected from this type of test.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)89-93
Number of pages5
JournalForest Products Journal
Volume52
Issue number1
StatePublished - Jan 1 2002

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