Noise and vibrations are an inevitable part of urban society today. The advancement in lighter, more efficient building materials has increased the susceptibility of buildings to vibrations. A mathematical model that can predict vibration levels throughout a building is essential to helping structural engineers design more efficient, effective buildings. In this thesis, two mathematical models are developed to model the two main types of walls: non-load-bearing walls (wave propagation model) and load-bearing walls (transmission coefficient model). Data was collected at the TD Banknorth Garden, which has Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU) walls on floors one through five. An electrodynamic shaker was placed on floor 7, directly on top of a column, and velocity ratios with respect to floor 7 were collected. The mathematical model for buildings with non-load-bearing walls (wave propagation model) accurately predicted the velocity levels measured at the TD Banknorth Garden. Data was also collected on a 4-story scale model building in the Tufts University Structures Laboratory with only load-bearing walls supporting the top floor. The mathematical model for load-bearing walls (transmission coefficient model) accurately predicted the velocity levels measured on a scale model building with a new data acquisition system.
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