Sara Reichenbach

Sara Reichenbach is a researcher and Deputy Institute Director at the Institute of Building Construction, Timber Construction and Circular Construction, Department of Landscape, Water and Infrastructure, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU). She holds a Dr.techn. and Dipl.-Ing. in civil engineering from TU Wien and has held postdoctoral positions at both TU Wien and BOKU. Her work bridges structural engineering, sustainable construction, and digital fabrication.

Research Interests: Her research focuses on resource-efficient building construction, particularly in concrete and timber systems. She investigates topology optimization, life cycle analysis (LCA), additive manufacturing of bio-based materials, FRP reinforcement, and the development of reusable, circular building components. Her work aims to reduce environmental impacts while enhancing structural performance and economic viability in prefabricated construction.

Publication Trends: Her recent publications reflect a strong trend toward sustainable and digital construction, emphasizing 3D printing of recyclable walls (3DP BIOWALLS), topology-optimized concrete elements, and the use of renewable and FRP materials. The integration of automation, robotics, and computational design is a recurring theme, aligning with Industry 4.0 principles in construction.

Scientific Awards:

• FSV-Preis für Diplomarbeit (2013): For her thesis on load testing of existing prestressed concrete bridge girders to assess shear capacity.

Advising and Grants: She supervises master's theses on topics such as life cycle assessment of 3DP Biowalls and automated production strategies. She is actively involved in research projects funded by FFG and EU sources, including the 'Additive manufacturing of fully-recyclable wall systems made from renewable materials' project led by Benjamin Kromoser. She also serves as a reviewer for journals like Applied Sciences and Scientific Reports, and as an expert in the ÖBV working group on non-metallic reinforcement.

Labs and Teams: She is part of the research team at the Institute of Building Construction, Timber Construction and Circular Construction at BOKU, collaborating closely with Prof. Benjamin Kromoser. The team operates in a multidisciplinary environment focusing on innovative construction technologies, with access to advanced digital fabrication and structural testing facilities.