Measurement-Calibrated Vibro-Acoustic Prediction Framework for Elevator Noise in High-Rise Residential Buildings

Abstract

This study presents a measurement-calibrated vibro-acoustic framework for predicting elevator noise in high-rise residential buildings at the design stage. Elevator noise in hoistway-adjacent units is governed by structural transmission and indoor acoustic response, with the hoistway boundary acting as a key mediator. Instead of explicitly modeling multiple uncertain sources, effective excitation conditions are defined based on measured structural and acoustical responses. In-situ measurements demonstrate strong frequency-dependent correlation between wall vibration at anchoring locations and sound pressure levels in adjacent rooms. Structure-borne and air-borne sources are identified via frequency-dependent calibration functions. A coupled vibro-acoustic finite element model is established that incorporates a concrete-frame structural system, a hoistway acoustic domain, and multi-layer wall configurations for indoor sound radiation. The predictions favorably agree with measurements, with discrepancies within approximately 1 dB across dominant frequency bands, and accurately capture variations with operating speed and anchoring configuration. The results reveal that structure-borne transmission contributes approximately 97% or more of the total noise, confirming its dominant role. The proposed framework provides a physically consistent and computationally efficient tool for performance-based design and pre-evaluation of elevator noise.