My apartment has tremors and vibrations that feel like a small earthquake. It comes and goes, and my landlord and I have no idea what it is. We've checked with other tenants with respect to fans, A/C's, etc. We would like to measure the vibrations and feed it into a PC so that we try and get a better understanding of thigns. Any ideas on how to do this short of buying a seismograph? It wakes me up sometimes in the middle of the night as it shakes my bed, so I would like to fix this. And no we are not thinking of calling an Exorcist.
2006-09-12 15:03:50 · 5 answers · asked by John V 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
I agree that the goal is to find the source, and we think if we can track its frequency then this would help.
There are vibration sensors, some are MEMS, and some of these are not so expensive. Would need to find a way to connect to the pc.
2006-09-12 15:25:31 · update #1
The most practical approach is to pay a lot of attention when it happens. Keep a journal with details. Ask your neighbors if they noticed it, and what they were doing at the time. Pay attention to how it feels and sounds, how long it lasts, when it happens, whether it's steady, whether it's exactly the same each time, and so on. Show the journal to your neighbors and see if it helps them recognize what it is. A seismograph or data collection station isn't going to work magic. Any results you collect would need to be interpreted, and you'd still need to localize it.
2006-09-12 19:10:57 · answer #1 · answered by Frank N 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
1st, sorry they did no longer enable you understand in improve. long term possibility and or harm is all relative. How previous is the construction? Any signs and indicators of cracking plaster or sheetrock joints? regrettably it no longer user-friendly to assert, yet whilst this is apartment assets the owner has to comply with community codes. As apartment assets falls decrease than commercial regulations. i'm particular that besides the undeniable fact that stressful the construction must be ok. a minimum of its no longer next to an airport with the vibration and upload the noise. approximately all which you're able to do is to verify all door & window hardware to confirm they're all comfy. point and shim all home equipment, and there is no longer something which you particularly can do for the flooring. I additionally stay right on a significant street, and have self assurance it or no longer this isn't any longer long till now you will no longer even observe it plenty from now on. good success and need which you would be waiting to savour your new living house quickly.
2016-12-18 09:19:38 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
contact a geotechnical enginner in your area. they have equipment to monitor vibrations, for instance if there is new bridge construction near an existing developed area which would be sensitive to vibration, they could monitor the ground vibrations during pile driving and determine if it is within acceptable, non-impacting limits. i imagine the same equipment could be used in your situation. only problem is they charge hourly, so you should try to determine a regular pattern so you could have them come to the site at at time when the vibration will occur. hiring them on an hourly basis will certainly be cheaper than buying your own data acquisition equipment and figuring out how to use it. is there construction going on in your area, sometimes heavy rolling compactors have vibrations that can be felt in nearby buildings, particularly if you have light item on a table. good luck.
2006-09-12 16:05:03 · answer #3 · answered by S.K. 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There actually is tech equipment to do/measure such a thing, but believe me, it's really expensive. You would need to hire someone who has the equipment and have them set it up and leave it running in your place. Start with asking a building structural engineer about how you would locate a specialist who can do this.
2006-09-12 15:10:22 · answer #4 · answered by Island Queen 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A)what state do you live in?
B) is there a certain time of day, week , month this happens in? look for patterns.
C) a machine will not tell you the source only will confirm the vibrations.
d) what's out side around your apartment... train tracks, bus stop, airport, highway?
E) Nieghbors play loud music, movies, have home theatre system? I can get mine to shake the windows lol
need more details please
2006-09-12 15:13:30 · answer #5 · answered by kcracer1 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋