Some of the country’s most earthquake-vulnerable regions — like densely populated Southern California — rely on continual advances in construction methods and materials to stay safe. Research-driven innovations with materials like cold-formed steel (CFS) framing help buildings withstand seismic forces and reduce repair costs.
Dr. Ben Schafer, Willard and Lillian Hackerman Professor of Civil and Systems Engineering at Johns Hopkins University and founding director of the Ralph S. O’Connor Sustainable Energy Institute, is a pioneer in CFS research. In a recent interview with The Hub at Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Schafer explained how funding from the National Science Foundation enables civil engineers to strengthen the building codes and leverage materials like steel framing to create more resilient, cost-effective structures.
Dr. Ben Schafer (right) of Johns Hopkins University credits much of his success to National Science Foundation support.
NSF Supports CFS Innovation
Dr. Schafer credits much of his success to National Science Foundation support. “NSF support has allowed me to take fundamental knowledge and convert it into practical knowledge that engineers can use to design better buildings,” says Schafer.
With this support, he developed the Direct Strength Method, an internationally approved approach for predicting the strength of CFS building components.
DSM uses elastic buckling analysis — local, distortional and global — along with empirical formulas to predict member strength. It’s an accepted design method in national design specifications and enables a unified, robust and flexible design approach.
The CFS10 Seismic Tests
Schafer has been a principal in several pioneering experiments, including the upcoming CFS10 shake-table project, which in mid-June (June 16 or 17) will test earthquake forces on a full-scale, steel-framed structure. The research is poised to redefine construction standards. Schafer, Tara Hutchinson of the University of California San Diego and other researchers will use UC San Diego’s outdoor shake table to simulate earthquake conditions.
“I’ve had the privilege of testing a full-scale, two-story building several years ago,” Schafer says, “and I am currently about to test a 10-story building at the outdoor testing facility in San Diego, which is an NSF site.”
Part of the 10-story CFS10 building is made from modular cold-formed steel (CFS) framed units. Here the last unit is installed on top of the building. Photo: David Baillot/UC San Diego
The CFS10 project’s primary objective is to assess the seismic resilience of tall CFS structures, potentially influencing future building codes. Currently, U.S. regulations limit CFS-framed buildings to six stories. CFS10 researchers hope to revise that height restriction.
Better Codes, Safer Buildings
Schafer’s contributions reach far beyond the laboratory. He devotes considerable time to converting his research findings into provisions within the national building codes.
“There are lines in the building code which give guidance to engineers on how to design a particular part of a building that come directly from work that was funded by NSF,” says Schafer.
By developing model provisions for components like lightweight steel shear walls and detailed diaphragm systems, Schafer’s research is affecting the design of CFS-framed buildings that are lighter, safer, more resilient and more cost-effective.
Following recent staffing cuts at the NSF, Schafer emphasizes that sustained federal support is crucial to maintain progress in building safety and innovation.
“The federal government is deeply involved in helping make sure that the nation’s buildings are not just safe but better as we go forward,” he says.
Read the full article from Johns Hopkins’ Hub.
Additional Resources
- Shaking Up CFS Design at NASCC: Video Spotlight with Johns Hopkins’ Ben Schafer
- Construction Begins on 10-Story CFS-NHERI Building, Seismic and Fire Testing to Follow
- New Research Helps Engineers, Architects Tally Cold-Formed Steel Load Buckling Stress