Structural vibrations can be disruptive to sensitive equipment in research labs and medical or healthcare facilities. Our solutions protect your equipment from both interior sources, like walking-induced or mechanical vibrations, and environmental sources such as construction activities, bus lines, or train tracks.
A leading quantum computing company was expanding into a new building, where we served as the Engineer of Record. Our team was engaged to design the floor structure to meet the stringent vibration performance requirements of their highly sensitive quantum computing systems.
Quantum computing remains an emerging field, with rapid technological advances and a wide range of system configurations, each having different levels of vibration sensitivity. As a result, there is no single, universally applicable vibration criterion for quantum computing facilities.
For this project, we conducted vibration measurements in the company’s existing laboratory, characterizing both floor vibration levels and the vibration response directly at sensitive quantum computing equipment. These measurements allowed us to establish a project-specific vibration criterion based on the actual performance requirements of the client’s systems rather than relying solely on generic industry guidelines.
We developed a detailed three-dimensional finite element model of the proposed floor structure and performed advanced vibration analyses to predict its dynamic performance. The results were used to generate vibration heatmaps, identifying areas of elevated vibration and guiding the structural design.
We then systematically evaluated and optimized the structural system by iteratively increasing beam sizes and assessing the resulting vibration performance. This process allowed us to quantify the relative benefit of increasing structural member depth while considering the associated impacts on building height and construction cost.
By integrating advanced structural modeling, vibration analysis, and engineering optimization, we developed a cost-effective floor system capable of meeting the rigorous vibration requirements established from the client’s existing laboratory.
We delivered a robust, cost-optimized floor structure designed to meet the demanding vibration performance requirements of sensitive quantum computing systems. The project demonstrates our ability to integrate field vibration measurements, structural engineering, advanced vibration analysis with finite element models, and performance-based design optimization to address highly specialized vibration challenges where conventional criteria may not be applicable.
When Yale University’s School of Medicine set out to create a cutting-edge microscopy research lab, vibration performance became one of the most critical design challenges. The task was to introduce cost-effective structural vibration mitigation measures to the McSal-designed base building 101 College Street for Yale University, Microscopy Research Lab Fit-Out.
The lab’s super-resolution microscopes demanded an environment with exceptionally low vibration levels, VC-D (250 mips) & VC-E (125 mips) far more stringent typical laboratory standards.
Our team was brought in to engineer practical, high-performance vibration solutions within the constraints of an existing building structure. Through enhanced footfall vibration analysis, we evaluated the impact of everyday activities and incorporated the damping effects of proposed partition walls, specialized isolation tables, and structural reinforcing into our models.
The result was a set of targeted, cost-effective structural upgrades that reduced floor vibration levels from approximately 8,000 micro-inches per second (mips) to within the stringent limits required for high-precision microscopy. This project demonstrates our ability to blend technical innovation with constructible, cost-effective solutions — enabling world-class research environments to perform at their highest potential.
A series of vibration tests investigated a surgical microscope that was experiencing excessive vibrations. On multiple occasions, neurosurgical cases had been disrupted due to the vibrations of the microscope. The task was to determine the source(s) of the vibrations and then propose solutions to eliminate or alleviate unwanted vibration levels.
The microscope manufacturer did not provide any specific vibration limits. Generic vibration criteria available in literature, however, stated that the limit should be 1,000 micro-in/s (mips) in root-mean-square (RMS) for the floors of microsurgery rooms. No vibration criteria specific to the eye of the microscope was found in the literature.
First, potential vibration sources were determined. This included human walking, the internal electronics of the microscope itself, the intensity of the air flow inside, and other medical equipment used in the building. Next, accelerometers were installed on the floor and on the microscope at multiple locations, and vibrations were recorded for one of the vibration sources at a time in a controlled manner.
The largest vibration levels measured at the microscope eye were around 21 Hz. Disruptive vibration levels were observed only when the motor of a condenser water pump operated at 1,260 RPM on the mechanical floor. The pump controller was reprogrammed to skip the frequencies near 21 Hz which eliminated the resonance problem, hence, the vibration issue was solved with minimal cost.
A structural floor design was reviewed and modified to receive two nuclear medicine imaging equipment installations with stringent vibration criteria.
The manufacturer’s vibration criteria were given in both velocity and acceleration units as root-mean-square, 1/3 octave band spectral values. The equipment was most sensitive in the frequency range of 0.5 Hz to 20 Hz, which is well within the footfall excitation range.
A finite element model of the floor was built, and an enhanced vibration analysis was conducted with consideration for slow walking footfall within the imaging rooms, moderate walking footfall along the ghost corridors and fast walking along the main corridors.
The resulting vibration levels at the equipment base were compared against the vibration criteria, and the structural floor framing was revised to meet required minimum vibration levels.
The project included multiple vibration sensitive equipment at various floors including a vivarium floor, several NMRs, MRIs and other sensitive laboratory equipment.
Floor vibration criteria were selected based on equipment manufacturer’s recommendations. In lieu of such guidance, generic vibration criteria were adapted based on published research.
Each floor that expected to receive a vibration sensitive occupancy was modeled in FEM software and subjected to enhanced footfall vibration analysis.
Calculated vibration levels at the sensitive equipment location were compared against the selected vibration criteria and the structural floor framing was optimized to meet the vibration criteria.
For inquiries about Vibration Consulting, please use this email form to contact Dr. Omer Tigli.
