An approach to predict human-structure interaction in the case of staircases

This paper presents a general approach for modelling human-structure interaction in the case of vertical vibrations that is based on a model of the system and on a solution procedure that is able to account for the most complex dynamic conditions, such as people ascending/descending light staircases. The approach combines the effects of changes in pedestrians' positions along the structure and changes in pedestrians' postures during movement. Furthermore, the model used describes the coupled system composed by the structure and the people on the structure, splitting the actions of pedestrians into two components: passive and active forces. This approach and two further enhancements of the model were used to evaluate the dynamic interactions between pedestrians and a staircase, and the results were validated via an extensive experimental campaign carried out using a staircase in the Bovisa Campus of Politecnico di Milano as a test case structure.