The most significant vibration producers in our environment are rail traffic, construction activities, explosions and industrial machinery sources - usually presses and stamping mills. Large masses are subjected to periodic or intermittent motion in all these cases. Strong reaction forces are created, which excite low-frequency vibrations in the earth, either directly or via building foundations. The propagation of these vibrations depends on the geological characteristics of the underlying subsoil. Oscillations are therefore excited in buildings in the vicinity of the source of the vibration. These oscillations propagate throughout the building and lead to vibration in the floors and walls experienced by humans, as well as to radiated low-frequency airborne sound.

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Effects on people

People perceive vibrations with their entire bodies. Excessively strong vibrations can affect one's sense of well-being. Low-frequency airborne sound is experienced as humming or an unpleasant droning sound, and it is often found to be highly annoying. We carry out measurements of the levels of vibration and low-frequency airborne sound, check whether they comply with relevant guideline values and evaluate the annoyance.

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Effects on buildings

Vibrations can cause settlement, cracks and other types of damage to buildings. We carry out computations, measurements and structural dynamics tests that are necessary to ensure the usability and stability of a building. We can also install monitoring systems with automatic recording and alarm-generation capabilities. This is often advisable in buildings near construction work that produces frequent or intense vibrations.

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Effects on machines and facilities

It is often necessary to protect machines and facilities against the effects of vibrations. Semiconductor fabrication plants, precision measurement equipment for quality control and analytical equipment in research institutes, such as electron microscopes, demand a nearly vibration-free environment.

It must be ensured that the vibrations at the installation remain below the level specified by the equipment manufacturer for a proper operation. If no limits are specified, we can work out suitable limits from similar equipment by simulating typical excitations. 

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Countermeasures

We develop technical solutions to limit vibration emissions in collaboration with operators of facilities that generate vibrations. We design measures that can be used for elastic isolation of systems that generate vibrations. We develop solutions such as sub-ballast mats, floating slab supports and other rail bedding systems for the reduction of vibrations generated by rail traffic. We also develop operating concepts and make plans for optimum utilization of construction equipment and procedures to limit vibration emissions.

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Planning and advising

Vibration control measures taken after the unacceptable vibrations are determined can usually only be implemented at very high costs, if at all… Special attention must therefore be given to vibration control when planning new buildings and facilities. We offer a complete planning service for vibration and vibration control for facilities that either generate a lot of vibrations or are sensitive to vibrations. We advise architects, building engineers and facility constructors regarding the installation of equipment and questions relating to vibration isolation. 

We test and optimize the design of building ground plans and develop specifications for resonant frequencies of floor structures for objects in the immediate vicinity of facilities that produce a lot of vibrations. We also develop elastic mount systems for buildings and building components in collaboration with statics engineers.

We carry out vibration measurements, perform location evaluations, gather and preserve evidence for the registration of the actual vibration status and generate forecasts of expected vibration emissions. We use the finite element method (FEM) to simulate the vibrations for evaluation and optimization of machines and facilities. We investigate technically feasible options, explain their dynamic characteristics and judge their efficiency and cost-effectiveness if specific vibration reduction measures are necessary.

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