Harald Schuler

Prof. Dr. Harald Schuler is a Professor at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW), where he serves as Head of the Institute of Civil Engineering, Head of the Concrete Construction Department, and Head of the Bachelor's Program in Civil Engineering. He teaches courses in Concrete Construction, Prestressed Concrete Construction, and Masonry Construction at the undergraduate level.

His academic background includes:

• 1992-1997: Studies in Civil Engineering at FH-Konstanz
• 1997-1999: Studies in Civil Engineering at University of Kassel
• 2004: Doctorate (Dr.-Ing.) from University of the Federal Armed Forces with thesis on "Experimental and numerical investigations on damage to concrete under impact loading"

Prof. Schuler's primary research interests focus on the load-bearing and deformation behavior of steel and prestressed concrete structures, with particular emphasis on punching shear, crack width limitation, and nonlinear material laws. His work in structural dynamics and earthquake engineering includes force and deformation-based earthquake analysis and direct time integration methods. He also investigates short-term dynamic effects, particularly explosion protection, and conducts material and component testing for concrete structures. His research bridges theoretical modeling with experimental validation to develop practical engineering solutions.

His recent publication record shows a clear progression from fundamental material behavior under high strain rates to application-focused structural analysis. The most recent works demonstrate a strong focus on seismic behavior of reinforced concrete shear walls, particularly sliding deformation mechanisms. Earlier works focused on concrete behavior under impact loading, explosion scenarios, and high strain rate material properties. This evolution reflects a career trajectory from fundamental material research to structural system analysis with practical applications in earthquake and explosion engineering.

No specific scientific awards or fellowships were mentioned in the provided information.

Prof. Schuler actively supervises Bachelor's and Master's students and has led numerous research and service projects including:

• Experimental investigations for the Kunstmuseum Basel extension (2014)
• Study on sliding mechanisms in cyclically loaded concrete walls (2014)
• Structural expert roles for multiple University of Basel projects
• Consulting on short-term dynamic effects for the Roche Building 1 in Basel (2008-2010)

As an active member of the Swiss engineering community, Prof. Schuler serves on the board of SIA Basel and SGEB (Swiss Society for Earthquake Engineering), contributing to professional standards and practices in structural engineering.