The Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute (CFSEI) will host a webinar on “Innovative Cold-Formed Steel Floor System: Development, Behavior and Detailing” on Thursday, August 26, 2021 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. EDT. The webinar is designed for architects, engineers, building officials and contractors. Participants are eligible for 1.5 PDHs.

The webinar will focus on the ideation, development, analysis and experimental evaluation of an innovative lightweight modular floor system utilizing cold-formed steel. As part of a research project funded by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), researchers at the University of Kansas developed a novel floor system composed primarily of cold-formed steel, intended for modular use in steel-framed buildings. The webinar will highlight the background and initial development of the floor system, including design and construction considerations and corresponding analyses. As rapid fabrication, vibration mitigation and diaphragm behavior were emphasized in the development of the floor system, experimental testing of the floor focused on the cyclic behavior of connectors in the cold-formed steel components, vibration serviceability of the floor, and cyclic diaphragm performance within a steel-framed structure. All aspects of system validation will be presented, including physical and analytical evaluations as well as recommendations for future implementation and other project applications.

The webinar will be presented by Matthew F. Fadden, Ph.D., P.E., senior associate at Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates (WJE) and William N. Collins, Ph.D., P.E., Chair’s Council Associate Professor of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering at the University of Kansas.

Dr. Fadden joined WJE with 10 years of experience in structural engineering research and consulting. His primary areas of expertise include the design, analysis and evaluation of steel structures (hot-rolled and cold-formed) and reinforced concrete structures, as well as structural evaluation using finite element modeling and structural testing. His experience also includes seismic design, structural vibrations, offshore structures and litigation support.

Dr. Collins’ expertise is in structural engineering, with a particular focus on fracture and fatigue behavior and metallic infrastructure. He has been associated with numerous projects related to structural behavior, fabrication and inspection. He is active with numerous professional organizations, including TRB, ASTM International and the AASHTO/NSBA Collaboration. Dr. Collins is also engaged in a variety of educational initiatives at the University of Kansas, including the development and implementation of peer mentoring in structural engineering curricula, an effort that has spread to other groups and departments within the university.

For more information about the webinar and to register, visit https://www.cfsei.org/webinar-on-innovative-cold-formed-steel-floor-system--development--behavior--and-detailing.