Analysis of RMS Acceleration Response Spectrum for Random Pedestrian Loads

Pedestrian loads are affected by such uncertain parameters as walking step frequency, step length, dynamic load factors and phases of harmonic components, which lead to the uncertainties of structural response. A new method for calculation random response spectrum based on uniform design is introduced to reduce calculation work. A few representative samples of loads time histories are simulated using uniform design, and then the RMS acceleration response spectrums are obtained by dynamic time-history analysis of beam structures with different spans and damping ratios. The RMS acceleration response spectrums which have certain percentiles are obtained by reliability analysis based on response surface. Ultimately the general forms of RMS acceleration response spectrums are deduced from the analyses of sensitivities for damping ratio and span.