Scottsdale is pleased to present a very interesting interview with Cris Moen, Ph.D., P.E., a world-renowned expert on cold-formed steel design. Formerly a professor at prestigious universities such as Virginia Tech and John Hopkins University, Cris is one of the key researchers leading to the inception of the groundbreaking Direct Strength Method in cold-formed steel engineering.
In this riveting program with Scottsdale’s Harikrishnan Magarabooshanam (PhD, NER, RPEQ), Cris speaks about his academic insights in cold-formed steel education, past and present of light-gauge steel framing, emerging trends in the industry, insights on the challenges he faced in research and offers valuable advice to budding engineers and researchers navigating the evolving field.
Revolutionizing Cold-Formed Steel: Insights from Cris Moen
During his Ph.D. at Johns Hopkins in the early 2000s, Cris Moen made a groundbreaking discovery: adding holes to steel studs can enhance performance by altering buckling behavior. This insight became the foundation of his research and innovative approach to cold-formed steel (CFS) engineering.
After eight years as a professor at Virginia Tech, Moen founded RunToSolve in 2019, a company developing automation and simulation software for CFS design. These tools optimize efficiency, accuracy, and sustainability, empowering engineers to explore designs comprehensively while minimizing waste and reducing environmental impact.
Moen highlights emerging technologies like advanced joining methods and improved steel materials as key to the industry’s future. He also envisions integrating AI and machine learning with interactive, machine-readable standards to streamline design and analysis, keeping CFS at the forefront of sustainable, cost-effective construction.
Ping us at rollformers@scottsdalesteelframing.info to learn more about steel framing technology we offer and are currently developing for future generations.
