Alexander Michel

Alexander Michel is an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), specializing in Materials & Durability. His research spans advanced materials testing, durability of cementitious systems, corrosion, and fatigue in structural and offshore materials.

His research focuses on understanding degradation mechanisms in construction materials through innovative experimental and computational methods. Key areas include microstructural analysis of cement-based materials, corrosion in reinforced concrete, multiscale damage modeling, and fatigue behavior of engineering materials. He integrates techniques such as X-ray computed tomography (XCT), digital volume correlation, finite element modeling, and deep learning to study crack propagation, damage evolution, and material durability.

The most recent publications highlight a strong trend in combining high-resolution imaging with computational modeling to predict material behavior under mechanical and environmental stress. His work increasingly incorporates artificial intelligence and unified mechanics theories to enhance predictive accuracy in structural materials, particularly in cement-based systems and structural steel. Applications extend to offshore structures and sustainable construction materials.

• Villum Young Investigator (2021)
• Best Reviewer 2015 Award of Materials and Structures (2016)
• Freescale Semiconductor Prize (2008)

Dr. Michel actively supervises PhD students and leads multiple research projects, including those funded by Villum Foundation. He serves as Principal Investigator (PI) and main supervisor for several ongoing projects focused on fatigue, durability, and advanced material testing. He has secured competitive grants such as the Villum Young Investigator award, supporting his independent research trajectory. His work involves collaboration across disciplines and institutions, particularly in the areas of composite materials, wind turbine structures, and plug-and-abandonment technologies in oil and gas.

He is a key participant in the Villum Center for Advanced Structural and Material Testing (CASMaT), contributing to the development of next-generation testing methodologies for heterogeneous engineering materials. His team utilizes state-of-the-art facilities for in-situ mechanical testing and 3D imaging, enabling real-time observation of damage processes at multiple length scales.