Detailed results for footfall analysis

Since SCIA Engineer v26, there is a results command that provides detailed results for footfall analysis. This command is called Dynamics detailed. It is accessible via "Results → Dynamics → Dynamics detailed", or by default also from the "Process toolbar" in the "Results section".

Detailed results for footfall analysis are available if at least one footfall load case has been calculated in the project. To display the results, set "Type of load" to "Load cases" and then, in "Load case", select the footfall load case for which you want to display the results.

For Footfall Load Case results, the Type of value list contains items that are common to all design methods, as well as items specific to each individual method.

The following sections first describe the common results, and then the method-specific results.

Common Results

For all design methods, the Type of value may be selected as "Displacements", "Velocities", or "Accelerations".

For each of these, translational and rotational components can be displayed, along with the Total value (vector sum). Multiple components can also be displayed simultaneously.

The "Response type" property can be set to:

• "Overall" - represents the maximum value from both resonant and transient responses at the selected node.

• "Resonant" - represents the response due to resonant vibrations.

• "Transient" - represents the response due to transient vibrations.

The calculation of the individual response types is described in detail in the Footfall analysis calculation. It should be noted that, for the transient analysis, some results are zero. Specifically:

• For SCI P354 and AISC DG11, only acceleration results are available.

• For CCIP-016, only velocity results are available.

• For resonant response, all result types are available for all design methods.

The check box property "Result in all FEM nodes" offers to plot the result in all the nodes of the finite element mesh. If the mesh is fine, this might be graphically in 3D scene rather unreadable. However, the export into excel sheet from the "result table" might have some practical application in order to see the results in all the mesh nodes.

Units

In order to change the units of accelerations or velocities: "Unit system" → "Manage units" → "Dynamics" → and the corresponding entities - see the figure below:

Results for SCI P354

In addition to the common results described in the first chapter, the SCI P354 design method provides two additional result types in the "Type of value" field: "Response factor" and "Number of events".

Response factor

If "Type of value" is set to "Response factor", the only available value in "Values" is "RF_z", which represents the response factor in the direction of the global Z-axis.

The "Response type" property can be set to:

• "Overall" - represents the maximum value from both resonant and transient responses at the selected node.

• "Resonant" - represents the response due to resonant vibrations.

• "Transient" - represents the response due to transient vibrations.

For this result type, the display settings can be adjusted via "Actions" → "Drawing setup 2D".

In "Table results" and "Report preview", new tables are created that always contain the "RF_z" results for the selected "Response type". These tables include the following columns:

• "Name" – the name of the member where the result is located

• "Mesh" – the FEM node where the result is calculated

• "Position" – the location of the analyzed point on the structure, given in global coordinates

• "Case" – the current load case for which the results are displayed

• "RF_z" – the resulting response factor value

• "fp" – the walking frequency at which the maximum value was reached (fundamental frequency)

• "Excitation location" – the location of the force that caused the response, given in global coordinates

The calculation procedure is described in Footfall analysis calculation.

Units

The response factor is linked to the “Safety factor” unit in the “Others” section

Number of events

If "Type of value" is set to "Number of events", the only available value in "Values" is "n_a,z", representing the number of events in the direction of the Z-axis.

The "Response type" property can be set to:

• "Overall" - represents the maximum value from both resonant and transient responses at the selected node.

• "Resonant" - represents the response due to resonant vibrations.

• "Transient" - represents the response due to transient vibrations.

For this result type, the display settings can be adjusted via "Actions" → "Drawing setup 2D".

In "Table results" and "Report preview", new tables are created that contain "n_a,z" for the selected "Response type", with the following columns:

• "Name" – the name of the member where the result is located

• "Mesh" – the FEM node where the result is calculated

• "Position" – the location of the analyzed point on the structure, given in global coordinates

• "Case" – the current load case for which the results are displayed

• "n_a,z" – the resulting number of events

• "fp" – the walking frequency at which the value was reached (fundamental frequency)

• "Excitation location" – the location of the force that caused the response, given in global coordinates

The calculation procedure is described in Footfall analysis calculation.

Units

The number of event is linked to the “VDV - vibration dose value” unit in the “Dynamics” section.

Results for CCIP-016

In addition to the common results described in the first chapter, the AISC DG11 design method provides an additional result type in the "Type of value" field: "Peak acceleration".

Response factor

If "Type of value" is set to "Response factor", the only available value in "Values" is "RF_z", which represents the response factor in the direction of the global Z-axis.

The "Response type" property can be set to:

• "Overall" - represents the maximum value from both resonant and transient responses at the selected node.

• "Resonant" - represents the response due to resonant vibrations.

• "Transient" - represents the response due to transient vibrations.

For this result type, the display settings can be adjusted via "Actions" → "Drawing setup 2D".

In "Table results" and "Report preview", new tables are created that always contain the "RF_z" results for the selected "Response type". These tables include the following columns:

• "Name" – the name of the member where the result is located

• "Mesh" – the FEM node where the result is calculated

• "Position" – the location of the analyzed point on the structure, given in global coordinates

• "Case" – the current load case for which the results are displayed

• "RF_z" – the resulting response factor value

• "fp" – the walking frequency at which the maximum value was reached (fundamental frequency)

• "Excitation location" – the location of the force that caused the response, given in global coordinates

The calculation procedure is described in Footfall analysis calculation.

Units

The response factor is linked to the “Safety factor” unit in the “Others” section.

Results for AISC DG11

In addition to the common results described in the first chapter, the AISC DG11 design method provides an additional result type in the "Type of value" field: "Peak acceleration".

Peak acceleration

If "Type of value" is set to "Response factor", the only available value in "Values" is "A_p,z / g", which represents the response factor in the direction of the global Z-axis.

The "Response type" property can be set to:

• "Overall" - represents the maximum value from both resonant and transient responses at the selected node.

• "Resonant" - represents the response due to resonant vibrations.

• "Transient" - represents the response due to transient vibrations.

For this result type, the display settings can be adjusted via "Actions" → "Drawing setup 2D".

In "Table results" and "Report preview", new tables are created that always contain the "A_p,z / g" results for the selected "Response type". These tables include the following columns:

• "Name" – the name of the member where the result is located

• "Mesh" – the FEM node where the result is calculated

• "Position" – the location of the analyzed point on the structure, given in global coordinates

• "Case" – the current load case for which the results are displayed

• "A_p,z / g" – the resulting peak acceleration value

• "fp" – the walking frequency at which the maximum value was reached (fundamental frequency)

• "Excitation location" – the location of the force that caused the response, given in global coordinates

The calculation procedure is described in Footfall analysis calculation.

Units

The peak acceleration is linked to the “Ratio” unit in the “Others” section.