ABSTRACT
The identification of human-structure interaction (HSI) needs flexible ground conditions. A widely used method is the determination of ground reaction forces (GRF) by using portable force plates, with the main drawback of the plates being their predefined measurement zones that obstruct people from their natural gait during locomotion. The current paper describes and compares three methods for the direct measurement of GRF, aiming to define the best integrated measurement concept in the context of the desired result – in this case, for the analysis of natural human gait as a basis for further research on HSI. The measurement methods involve two different types of ground reaction force plates (GRFP) capable to measure triaxial forces and a mobile in-shoe force measurement system that measures only the vertical forces. Validation tests were performed on a pedestrian bridge at the Technical University (TU) of Darmstadt to determine the accuracy of both the GRF and the center of pressure (COP) of pedestrians crossing the measuring area. The different measurement methods were evaluated with regard to various criteria, such as their flexible application and installation in the laboratory or in field tests, considering also the associated costs. The results show that the decision on the optimal measurement solution dependent on the required accuracy of the results, the area of research and the application area used.
