Falk Wittel

Dr. Falk Wittel is a Lecturer at the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering at ETH Zürich, affiliated with the Institute of Construction Materials (IfB). His research focuses on advanced materials science, structural engineering, and geomatics applications. Key areas include wood mechanics, hygroresponsive materials, and granular systems. He explores topics such as creep behavior in orthotropic materials, micro-mechanical testing of biomaterials, and environmental degradation effects on construction materials.

His work spans experimental and computational analyses of material properties, including tensile/shear performance of wood tissues, residual stress in adhesives, and rheological modeling of hygroscopic systems. He investigates biomimetic systems like the Venus flytrap’s mechanical response and develops cost-effective testing methodologies for orthotropic materials.

Notable contributions include studies on wood densification, ice lensing in sandstone, and fragmentation processes in granular materials. His research bridges fundamental mechanics with practical applications in civil engineering and sustainable construction.