Synopsis
In recent years much progress has been made to demystify the issue of 'vibrations'. Well-established methods of analysis are now available to practising engineers to quantify the dynamic performance of structures, and awareness has grown throughout the wider industry. However, the post-construction testing of structures remains an area reserved for specialists and is generally only undertaken if a problem has arisen – denying designers valuable technical feedback.
This article suggests ways in which readily available technology (a smartphone or tablet) can provide engineers and construction professionals with a simple tool to test vibrations. This is demonstrated on the new feature staircase at The Institution of Structural Engineers' HQ in Bastwick Street, London – a lightweight and unusual structure. A free-to-download vibration testing app (beta version) has been developed by Expedition, and is introduced in this article.