Researchers design connection system to increase reusability, relocation and durability of modular homes

Researchers at the University of Waterloo have reimagined the construction of modular homes with the development and testing of a new design that they claim allows the structures to be more easily relocated, reassembled and reconfigured in urban or remote areas.

The design of the Structural Timber and Applied Research Team (START), which is located in Waterloo’s Faculty of Engineering, uses cross-laminated timber (CLT) as well as a wall-to-floor connection with minimal bolts required in each connection.

As opposed to traditional fasteners, the novel connector plate was designed for ease of disassembly and reassembly, making it ideal for multiple reuses and relocations.

The demand for flexible housing options along with concerns about climate change and its impact on vulnerable communities is creating more of a need for solutions that can speed up the deployment of safe, sustainable and affordable homes.

The ability to reuse walls and other parts means less materials end up in landfills. University of Waterloo researchers say the lightweight and durable CLT is ideal for modular housing in remote areas with limited road access. The system is conceived to be transported in a flat pack arrangement and assembled using little to no heavy equipment.

“Our goal is to redefine how modular buildings are conceived and implemented,” said Dr. Daniel Lacroix, a professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at Waterloo and lead on the project. “We are leveraging mass timber in combination with other lightweight and sustainable materials to create a system that can be assembled, disassembled and reassembled without compromising structural integrity or affordability.”

START’s connector was designed to allow for various reuses and relocations. Moving away from the use of multiple small fasteners closely spaced allowed the team to develop a practical connector for disassembly and reassembly.

The researchers tested the strength of their design by standing two CLT panels measuring 2 meters by 2.8 meters upright in a lateral design setup and pushing on it with 60 kN of force. During testing, the novel wall-to-floor connection system proved fit for reuse following several cycles of loading, disassembly and reassembly.

“Reuse means less waste and fewer carbon emissions, so our design’s reusability is an important step forward in circular economy construction methods,” said Daniela Roscetti, who led the research as part of her master’s thesis under the supervision of Lacroix and Dr. Andrea Atkins, a professor in CEE.

START plans to refine their design as well as conduct testing in the next stage of development. The team is pursuing partnership and funding opportunities.