Abstract
The CFS-NHERI 10-Story Building Capstone Test Program, coined CFS10, offered an opportunity to demonstrate, through full-scale testing at NHERI@UC San Diego 6-DOF Large High-Performance Outdoor Shake Table (LHPOST6), the resiliency and robustness of cold-formed steel (CFS) framing, a material that has consistently shown such qualities in large scale and component-level tests. This unique test program brought together three widely used construction methods, namely, stick-framing, panelization (2D), and volumetric modularization (3D), allowing them to be directly compared within the same structure. Notably, a 9-story Modular Stair System (MSS) was also integrated into the structure. These stair modules, capable of supporting their own weight, significantly reduced construction time, which ultimately shaped the building’s construction sequence and saved labor hours and site congestion. The layout of the 10-story specimen allowed each method to occupy its own section. The construction team needed to resolve a series of planning and coordination challenges. Building Information Modeling (BIM) facilitated this process and helped maintain smooth progress, as discussed in this paper. The result was a complete, test-ready structure that brings all three systems together in one place. While each method offered distinct benefits, the experience gained through the implementation of modular systems points toward a more controlled, efficient, and scalable path forward for CFS construction, with the potential to support more efficient construction of residential buildings.
Type
Publication
Proceedings of the 8th Residential Building Design & Construction Conference, Pennsylvania Housing Research Center, State College, PA.
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