REINHOLD SCHUSTER

Full time Professor
(Cross-Appointed in Architecture)
[Director of the Canadian Cold Formed Steel Research Group]
Teaching area: Structures
Extension: 3713
Email Address: rschuster@uwaterloo.ca

EDUCATION

Ph.D. in Structural Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, 1970.

TEACHING

Professor Schuster has been instrumental in the development of the structures curriculum for the School of Architecture since coming to the School in 1970. Over the years, he has taught every structures course offered by the School. Recently, he has offered a new graduate course to Architecture graduate students, entitled, “Lightweight and Special Structures”. In addition, Professor Schuster teaches a graduate course in Civil Engineering, entitled, “Design in Cold Formed Steel”.

RECENT HONORS

The distinction of “Fellow” has been conferred on Professor Schuster by the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering in recognition of his excellence in engineering and for services rendered to his profession and to Canada. Professor Schuster received the award of Merit from the Canadian Standards Association for his work in the development of cold formed steel Standards over the past 30 years. In recognition of his work with German exchange students at the University of Waterloo, the Federal Republic of Germany has awarded Professor Schuster the Commander’s Cross of Merit.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

My research and creative interests lie in the area of cold formed steel structures. Being a structural engineer, I am involved in the development of analytical expressions that can be used by practising structural engineers in the design of cold formed steel structures. To substantiate these analytical expressions, I am also engaged in experimental testing of cold formed steel structural members. Currently, my research involvement is with a major study relating to web crippling of cold formed steel members, which also includes the study of bearing stiffeners for such members. Another timely topic of research is the use of cold formed steel members in residential construction. As well, I am extensively involved in the writing of structural Standards.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

Chairman of the North American Specification committee for the design of cold-formed steel structures. This is a NAFTA committee with representatives from Canada, the US and Mexico.

Chairman of the Canadian Standards Association Steering Committee on Structural Design.

Chairman of the Canadian Standards Association technical committee (CSA-S136) “Cold Formed Steel Structural Members”.

Member of the standing committee on structural design of the National Building Code of Canada. Member of the International Standards Organization (ISO) committee for the design of cold formed steel structures, representing Canada.

Member of the Specification committee for the design of cold-formed steel members of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), where he actively participates on numerous subcommittees.