McMaster University

Purpose

To address national housing needs through a net-zero emissions lens, this Project adopts a three-pronged approach—Redesign, Reduce, and Reuse—to enhance the sustainability and resilience of corrugated web steel girder (CWG) construction in Canada. In this approach, ‘Redesign’ targets efficiency in material usage and integrates sustainability from the early design stages. ‘Reduce’ & ‘Reuse’ focuses on modular CWG-column connections, enabling easy assembly/disassembly to minimize cost and downtime, and facilitating member reuse post-seismic events. The research will employ numerical simulations, experimental testing, and machine learning models to predict CWG behaviour under critical limit states (e.g., bending, shear, bearing) and enhance the seismic resilience of CWG-column connections. A reliability-based assessment framework will be developed to ensure compliance with safety margins under both service and extreme conditions, and fragility analyses quantify damage risks to inform post-disaster repair and reuse strategies. By combining structural innovation with circular economy principles, this Project contributes to low-carbon steel construction practices.