Oliver Reul

Professor Oliver Reul serves as Head of the Department of Geotechnical Engineering within the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Kassel. His academic career spans over 30 years with significant contributions to foundation engineering and soil-structure interaction research. His leadership position indicates his prominence in the field of geotechnics within the German academic community.

Professor Reul's research focuses on advanced foundation systems, particularly combined pile-raft foundations, soil-structure interaction, and numerical modeling of geotechnical systems. His work bridges theoretical understanding with practical engineering applications, addressing complex challenges in foundation design for high-rise buildings and infrastructure projects. His research has evolved from fundamental soil mechanics investigations to sophisticated numerical modeling approaches that incorporate time-dependent soil behavior and advanced constitutive models.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on practical applications of geotechnical engineering principles, with particular attention to foundation design in challenging soil conditions, especially in overconsolidated clays common in Frankfurt. His work demonstrates a consistent progression from experimental validation to numerical implementation, with increasing sophistication in modeling techniques including visco-hypoplastic material models and coupled calculations for rate-dependent soil behavior.

Professor Reul has established himself as a leading expert in foundation engineering through his extensive publication record spanning multiple decades. His collaborations with international researchers, particularly with Randolph on pile-raft foundations, have contributed significantly to the advancement of foundation engineering practices worldwide.

His academic leadership as Department Head demonstrates his commitment to advancing geotechnical engineering education and research. Professor Reul's work has practical implications for major infrastructure projects and high-rise construction, particularly in urban environments with challenging soil conditions.