Vibration characteristics and comfort evaluation of a large shake table during operation

Abstract Shake tables are useful instruments for investigating structural seismic responses, while they may introduce excessive vibrations on surrounding environments during operation. This study investigates the impact of vibration generated by a 6 m×9 m large shake table on the shake table laboratory and the surrounding buildings. To begin, vibration sensors were strategically installed throughout the shake table laboratory and the surrounding buildings to investigate their vibration characteristics during operations of the shake table. Subsequently, the vibration comfort of the shake table laboratory and the surrounding buildings was thoroughly evaluated. Finally, the overall finite element model of the ground‐shake table laboratory‐surrounding buildings was established by simulating the infinite soil with a viscoelastic boundary, and the parametric study of the vibration isolation trench was conducted. This study is the first to accurately, objectively, and quantitatively investigate the impact of large shake table operation on the surrounding environment. The results presented will be useful for the laboratory managers to develop reasonable loading schemes, as well as to optimize the design of other similar laboratories and vibration isolation measures.