Modal Analysis of Selected Measuring Bases and Their Impact on the Recorded Level of Surface Accelerations

In predicting the impact of vibrations propagated in a ground on newly designed construction objects, it is extremely important to reliably measure the time histories of velocity or acceleration at the site of the planned investment. As some studies show, the method of coupling accelerometers and ge...

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Main Author: Krzysztof Robert Czech
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-04-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/9/3128
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author Krzysztof Robert Czech
author_facet Krzysztof Robert Czech
author_sort Krzysztof Robert Czech
collection DOAJ
description In predicting the impact of vibrations propagated in a ground on newly designed construction objects, it is extremely important to reliably measure the time histories of velocity or acceleration at the site of the planned investment. As some studies show, the method of coupling accelerometers and geophones to the ground can affect not only the level of peak particle accelerations (PPA) or peak particle velocities (PPV)—commonly used in this type of evaluation—but also vibration frequency distribution of recorded signals. This makes it difficult to compare and analyze the results obtained by various research teams. Conclusions based on this type of comparison may be wrong. For this reason, it is extremely important that reliable dynamic measurements related to the propagation of ground surface vibrations should be carried out using not only appropriately selected measuring equipment (with the required sensitivity and measurement ranges—both in the time domain and frequency domain), but also the measurement bases/setups used for mounting various types of transducers, whose natural frequencies will be outside the frequency range relevant to the possible impact of vibrations on buildings and human beings inside. The paper presents the results of modal analyses carried out with the use of Ansys Engineering Simulation and 3D Design Software (based on the Finite Element Method) for three different types of measuring bases used to coupling accelerometers to the ground. Measuring bases selected for numerical analyses were in the form of a stiff steel spike of an X-shaped cross section (a measuring base No. 1) and two steel spikes of L-shaped cross-sections (a measuring bases No. 2 and No. 3). In the places of screwed accelerometers (three different types of IEPE/ICP transducers of varying sensitivity and a weight) point masses were attached to the measuring bases. As a result of the analyses, it was possible to determine the impact of individual methods of coupling of accelerometers to the ground on the reliability of recorded ground surface accelerations. Among others it was concluded that in each analyzed case the lowest natural frequencies of the measuring bases with attached accelerometers significantly exceeded 100 Hz. The widest frequency band free of resonance vibrations can be provided by the measuring base No. 3 (L50 × 50 × 5).
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spelling doaj.art-764f1a0f4727423882dc29c6f1ff54192023-11-19T23:06:49ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172020-04-01109312810.3390/app10093128Modal Analysis of Selected Measuring Bases and Their Impact on the Recorded Level of Surface AccelerationsKrzysztof Robert Czech0Department of Geotechnics and Structural Mechanics, Bialystok University of Technology, 15-351 Bialystok, PolandIn predicting the impact of vibrations propagated in a ground on newly designed construction objects, it is extremely important to reliably measure the time histories of velocity or acceleration at the site of the planned investment. As some studies show, the method of coupling accelerometers and geophones to the ground can affect not only the level of peak particle accelerations (PPA) or peak particle velocities (PPV)—commonly used in this type of evaluation—but also vibration frequency distribution of recorded signals. This makes it difficult to compare and analyze the results obtained by various research teams. Conclusions based on this type of comparison may be wrong. For this reason, it is extremely important that reliable dynamic measurements related to the propagation of ground surface vibrations should be carried out using not only appropriately selected measuring equipment (with the required sensitivity and measurement ranges—both in the time domain and frequency domain), but also the measurement bases/setups used for mounting various types of transducers, whose natural frequencies will be outside the frequency range relevant to the possible impact of vibrations on buildings and human beings inside. The paper presents the results of modal analyses carried out with the use of Ansys Engineering Simulation and 3D Design Software (based on the Finite Element Method) for three different types of measuring bases used to coupling accelerometers to the ground. Measuring bases selected for numerical analyses were in the form of a stiff steel spike of an X-shaped cross section (a measuring base No. 1) and two steel spikes of L-shaped cross-sections (a measuring bases No. 2 and No. 3). In the places of screwed accelerometers (three different types of IEPE/ICP transducers of varying sensitivity and a weight) point masses were attached to the measuring bases. As a result of the analyses, it was possible to determine the impact of individual methods of coupling of accelerometers to the ground on the reliability of recorded ground surface accelerations. Among others it was concluded that in each analyzed case the lowest natural frequencies of the measuring bases with attached accelerometers significantly exceeded 100 Hz. The widest frequency band free of resonance vibrations can be provided by the measuring base No. 3 (L50 × 50 × 5).https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/9/3128modal analysismeasuring bases/setupscoupling to the groundsurface accelerations
spellingShingle Krzysztof Robert Czech
Modal Analysis of Selected Measuring Bases and Their Impact on the Recorded Level of Surface Accelerations
Applied Sciences
modal analysis
measuring bases/setups
coupling to the ground
surface accelerations
title Modal Analysis of Selected Measuring Bases and Their Impact on the Recorded Level of Surface Accelerations
title_full Modal Analysis of Selected Measuring Bases and Their Impact on the Recorded Level of Surface Accelerations
title_fullStr Modal Analysis of Selected Measuring Bases and Their Impact on the Recorded Level of Surface Accelerations
title_full_unstemmed Modal Analysis of Selected Measuring Bases and Their Impact on the Recorded Level of Surface Accelerations
title_short Modal Analysis of Selected Measuring Bases and Their Impact on the Recorded Level of Surface Accelerations
title_sort modal analysis of selected measuring bases and their impact on the recorded level of surface accelerations
topic modal analysis
measuring bases/setups
coupling to the ground
surface accelerations
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/9/3128
work_keys_str_mv AT krzysztofrobertczech modalanalysisofselectedmeasuringbasesandtheirimpactontherecordedlevelofsurfaceaccelerations