Building Vibration

Measurement
with the VM40 Vibration Monitor

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 Why Measure Vibration in Buildings?
• Buildings and other large structures like tunnels or pipelines are exposed to
vibration
• Buildings must sustain vibrations, structural integrity and bearing capacity of
ceilings and other components has to be ensured
• Historic buildings require special attention (typical damages are cracks in
walls or older cracks become wider)
• Vibrations may affect habitability and working conditions

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 Sources of Building Vibration
Examples:
• Construction
• Industrial machinery
• Road traffic
• Railway lines
• Explosions

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 Purposes of Building Vibration Measurement
• Problem recognition: Occupants of a building report that a building is
vibrating, measurements are carried out to evaluate the risk for structural
integrity
• Control monitoring: Maximum permissible vibration values have been
established and those vibrations have to be measured
• Documentation: Measurements are made to verify predictions of response
in the design of a building
• Diagnosis: Measurements are made at deeper levels of investigation to
provide information for mitigation procedures

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 Catastrophic Failure

 Collapse of Rana Plaza

commercial building in
Dhaka (Bangladesh) in
2013
 Vibrations due to
power generators
overloaded the
Building structure
 Vibrations and cracks
were ignored
 Death toll 1134

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 Vibration Measurement
• Vibrations can be measured with sensors for displacement, velocity and
acceleration
• Basis for evaluation is the peak value of vibration velocity [mm/s],
also called “peak particle velocity” (PPV)

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 Vibration Measurement
Piezoelectric accelerometers consist of
- Piezoceramic or quartz sensing element
- Seismic mass

Vibration acts vertically. The inertia of the seismic mass causes a force on the
piezoelectric material which results in a electric signal.

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 Parameters of Excitation
• Amplitude
• Frequency
• Duration
• Direction

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 Guide Values
• Some standards, like DIN 4150-3, give reference values which are based on
the experience of a large number of practical measurements
• At vibration amplitudes below these guide values damages are unlikely
• If results are above the guide values a deeper analysis should be made

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 Types of Vibration Duration
Transient Vibrations Continuous Vibrations
 Not strong enough to cause material  May cause material fatigue
fatigue  May stimulate resonances
 Too short and too rare to be  Resonances may increase vibration
increased by resonances magnitudes

Both types may occur during a monitoring period.

In such cases a separate evaluation of these intervals is recommended.

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 Standards for Building Vibration
• German DIN 4150-3 with various derivatives in other countries:
Vibration in buildings - Part 3: Effects on structures
• British BS 7385:
Evaluation and measurement for vibration in buildings. Guide to damage
levels from ground borne vibration
• Swiss SN 640312a:
• Vibration immission in buildings
• ISO 4866: Mechanical vibration and shock - Vibration of fixed structures -
Guidelines for the measurement of vibrations and evaluation of their effects
on structures
• French Circulaire du 23/07/86

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 DIN 4150-3: Transient Vibrations (continued)
• Maximum values of the two horizontal vibration velocities at the upper floor
level are measured and show the maximum response of the structure to
horizontal ground vibration
• The higher value of the two is used for evaluation
• Relevant is the main frequency

Y X

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 DIN 4150-3: Transient Vibrations (continued)
• Alternatively: Maximum values of the three vibration velocities at the
foundation are measured
• The highest value of X/Y/Z is used for evaluation
• Relevant is the main frequency

Z
Y X

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 DIN 4150-3: Transient Vibrations (continued)
• Vertical (Z) vibration velocity can be measured in the middle of ceilings
where the highest vibration values occur
• Below 20 mm/s peak vibration damage is not expected

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 DIN 4150-3: Transient Vibrations (continued)
Guide values for vibration velocity vi for transient vibration

Building Type Foundation Ceiling

1 – 10 Hz 10 – 50 Hz 50 – 100 Hz all Frequencies
X/Y/Z X/Y/Z X/Y/Z X/Y Z
Reinforced or framed 20 mm/s 20 – 40 40 – 50 40 mm/s 20 mm/s
structures; mm/s mm/s
Industrial and heavy
commercial buildings
Unreinforced or light 5 mm/s 5 – 15 15 – 20 15 mm/s 20 mm/s
framed structures; mm/s mm/s
Residential or light
commercial type
buildings
Delicate, listed 3 mm/s 3 – 8 mm/s 8 – 10 8 mm/s 20 mm/s
buildings e.g. mm/s
historical monuments

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 DIN 4150-3: Transient Vibrations (continued)
Graphical representation of the guide values for transient vibration

Industrial buildings

Residential buildings

Delicate / historical buildings

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 DIN 4150-3: Transient Vibrations (continued)
Guide Values for Transient Vibrations in Other Structures:
• For massive structures like block foundations or abutments a guide value of
80 mm/s can be used
Guide values for transient vibrations in tunnels and caverns
Type of lining Vibration Velocity vi
Steel, sprayed concrete, tubbings 80 mm/s
Concrete, natural stone 60 mm/s
Brickwork 40 mm/s

Guide values for transient vibrations in underground pipelines

Pipe material Vibration Velocity vi
Steel, welded 100 mm/s
Stoneware, concrete, reinforced concrete, 80 mm/s
pre-stressed concrete, metal
Brickwork, plastic, drainage tubes 50 mm/s

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 DIN 4150-3: Continuous Vibrations
• Relevant is the highest horizontal vibration velocity on the highest floor level

Y X

Y X

• Alternatively measurement points at the foundation can be used if the

response characteristics of the upper floors are known

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 DIN 4150-3: Continuous Vibrations (continued)
Guide values for vibration velocity vi for analyzing the effects of continuous vibration

Building Type Upper ceiling level,

all Frequencies

Direction X / Y (horizontal) Z (vertical)

Reinforced or framed structures industrial and 10 mm/s 10 mm/s

heavy commercial buildings

Unreinforced or light framed structures, 5 mm/s 10 mm/s

residential or light commercial type buildings

Delicate buildings, listed buildings e.g. historical 2.5 mm/s 10 mm/s

monuments

Notice: Above limits may be exceeded for short time when building machines are
switched on and off. Such vibrations are evaluated as transient vibrations.

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 DIN 4150-3: Continuous Vibrations (continued)
Guide values for continuous vibrations in underground pipelines
Pipe material Vibration Velocity vi
Steel, welded 50 mm/s
Stoneware, concrete, reinforced concrete, 40 mm/s
pre-stressed concrete, metal
Brickwork, plastic, drainage tubes 25 mm/s

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 DIN 4150-3: Measuring Points
The following advice is given in DIN 4150-3 for the placement of sensors:
• For foundation vibrations the transducer should be placed on the lowest
floor at the foundation or on the outer wall.
• In the upper ceiling level the sensor should be placed inside or very close to
the outer wall for horizontal vibration (X/Y).
• Vertical direction (Z) should be measured in the middle of ceilings where the
highest amplitudes can be expected. The highest vertical vibrations do not
always occur on the highest floor.
• For buildings without a basement the measurement location must not be
higher than 0.5m above the ground level.

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 DIN 4150-3: Measuring Points (continued)
• The measurement location should predominantly be on the side of the
building facing the excitation
• One of the lateral coordinates (X / Y) should be parallel to an outside edge
of the building
• Buildings with larger ground areas should be measured at several points.
• When measuring pipelines, where possible, the sensor should be placed on
the pipeline itself

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 DIN 4150-3: Measuring Report
Contents of the measuring report:
• General: Institution, customer, customer ID, person in charge, time and
date, duration of measurement, reason of measurement
• Type of excitation:
- Description of vibration source (explosion, pile driving, traffic, machines)
- Conditions, frequency of occurrence
- Other sources of excitation (man-made vibration etc.)
• Location of vibration source including dimensioned drawing
• Measuring conditions: weather, type of ground, groundwater etc.
• Measuring object:
- Address
- Kind of building (residential, industrial, historical)
- Description: type of construction, size, foundation, state of repair

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 DIN 4150-3: Measuring Report (continued)
• Measuring points:
- Location and direction of sensors
- Sensor mounting
- Duration of measurement for each location
- Serial numbers of sensors
- Drawing with dimensions
• Measuring chain:
- Transducer principle and model
- Signal conditioners
- Recording equipment
- Last calibration
- Tools for data analysis (equipment type, software)
• Recording Parameters
- Frequency range, sample rate
- Trigger limits

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 DIN 4150-3: Measuring Report (continued)
• Special observations (susceptibility, secondary effects like noise etc.)
• Measuring results
- Measured vibration values and frequencies
- Duration of immission and frequency of occurrence
- Special influences
• Signature

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 VM40B Building Vibration Monitor
Properties
• Stand-alone device including
- High-sensitivity accelerometer
- Signal conditioning
- Recording
- Cellular modem
- Battery
• Triaxial measurement of
- Vibration velocity
- Vibration acceleration
- Main frequency
• SMS alerts

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 VM40B Building Vibration Monitor (continued)
Operation
 Place the instrument on the measuring site.
The optional Tripod Floor Plate VM40-BP can be used to place on uneven or
soft surfaces.

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 VM40B Building Vibration Monitor (continued)
Preparing measurement
 Press the ON/OFF button
 Open the menu (F3 button)
Device settings/Axis adjustment
and adjust the case so that the
dot is in the center
 Return to the main menu (F3)
and select Measuring mode,
choose DIN 4150-3
 Select the type of vibration:
- Short time (transient)
- Sustained (continuous)
 Select the type of building:
- Industrial building
- Residential building
- Listed building
- Pipeline

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 VM40B Building Vibration Monitor (continued)
• Select the location of measurement:
- Foundation
- Upper ceiling
• Select the frequency range:
- 1 to 80 Hz (standard)
- 1 to 315 Hz (for blasting)

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 VM40B Building Vibration Monitor (continued)
Measurement display
• Vibration values for X/Y/Z
• Main frequency and its direction
• Limit curve of the chosen standard and vibration spectrum
• Battery condition, Date and time

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 VM40B Building Vibration Monitor (continued)
Recording / Monitoring
• Open the menu and choose Recording,
Start recording
• Select the recording mode:
- At warning/alarm event: The VM40 only
records a measurement if warning* level is
reached or the limit curve is exceeded
- Time-controlled: The VM40 records
in given time intervals
- Event and time control: The VM40 records
at Warning or Alarm and additionally in
time intervals

* Warning level can be entered in percent of the alarm limit in Alarms/GSM menu

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 VM40B Building Vibration Monitor (continued)
• Enter the recording interval in seconds

Tip: Do not enter short time intervals to avoid large amounts of irrelevant data.
The VM40 always keeps the maximum amplitude since the last saving so
that no vibration data gets lost.
• Enter a name for the record

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 VM40B Building Vibration Monitor (continued)
SMS notification
• Activate or skip SMS
notification at vibration
alarm events (SIM card
must be inserted,
only at the first time PIN
needs to be entered)
• Enter the maximum number of SMS per day,
the minimum time between two SMS and
one or two receivers from the SIM card's
phone book (see GSM/SMS menu)
• Activate or skip the key lock function
(key lock is released by pressing all arrow
buttons simultaneously)
• The VM40B will start recording

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 VM40B Building Vibration Monitor (continued)
Viewing recorded data in the instrument
• Viewing recorded measurements in
the menu Recording / View/edit/delete files,
the shown header data includes
- Name of the recording
- Start time and date
- Standard and settings
- Recording mode
• Choose a file (set of measurements)
and then scroll between the measurements,
each record is shown with
- Running number
- Time and Date of recording
- X/Y/Z amplitudes and main frequency

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 VM40B Building Vibration Monitor (continued)
Transferring recorded data to a PC
• Connect the supplied USB cable and install the VM40 USB driver on the PC
• Install the free database software VM40-MDB
• Click Load data from VM40

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 VM40B Building Vibration Monitor (continued)
• The PC software imports header data of the recordings
• Click the check boxes of the recordings you like to load from the VM40

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 VM40B Building Vibration Monitor (continued)
• Mark a recording and click Show
• In the Properties tab you see
- Record name
- Recording period
- VM40 name and serial number
- Used standard
- Trigger mode
– Number of saved
measurements
- Number of warnings and alarms
- Maximum values for X/Y/Z
• Further description text can be
entered

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 VM40B Building Vibration Monitor (continued)
Printing a Report
• Click Open protocol
• Several menu tabs need to
be opened to fill in all necessary
data for a DIN 4150-3 compliant report
- Customer and person in charge
- Details about the source of vibration
- Description of the monitored structure
- Information about the location and
the measuring point
- Environmental and other conditions
- Measuring results to be included

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 VM40B Building Vibration Monitor (continued)
Example
(pages 1/2)

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 VM40B Building Vibration Monitor (continued)
Example
(pages 3/4)

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