The professorship “Geotechnics of Hydraulic Engineering Infrastructure” is a joint appointment between TU Darmstadt and the Federal Waterways Engineering and Research Institute (BAW). It addresses geotechnical challenges arising in the planning, construction, operation, maintenance and rehabilitation of hydraulic engineering infrastructure along the Federal Waterways. Its overarching aim is to strengthen the scientific basis for decision-making in inland waterway engineering.
The professorship connects university research with BAW’s departmental research. Through an ongoing, two-way transfer of knowledge and methods, practical challenges faced by the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration (WSV) are translated into joint research questions. These are investigated at BAW and TU Darmstadt using theoretical, numerical and experimental approaches. The resulting insights are then applied in MSVs complex construction and infrastructure projects. The professorship aligns its work with current geotechnical priorities in inland waterway engineering:
- Soil-structure interaction in existing structures and in the construction of new hydraulic structures, as well as offshore structures
- Geohydraulically coupled processes in multiphase soil systems
- Construction- and installation-induced effects in specialist foundation engineering
- Sustainability assessments of geotechnical methods
A broad range of methods is employed to address these topics, including:
- (Large-scale) laboratory and physical model testing
- Field measurements
- Geotechnical laboratory investigations
- High-performance numerical methods, and
- Data-driven evaluation and forecasting approaches
A particular focus is placed on the development and implementation of new numerical methods and simulation tools. The professorship initiates and shapes research and development activities at the interface between BAW and TU Darmstadt, making targeted use of the complementary expertise and experimental facilities of both institutions.
Through its involvement in teaching at TU Darmstadt, the professorship contributes to the education of highly qualified engineers, specifically tailored to the needs of inland waterway engineering. At the same time, degree projects and doctorates addressing WSV-relevant questions contribute to the long-term consolidation and continued development of geotechnical expertise within the department’s remit.
