Prof. Dr.-Ing. Michael Kraus

Head of

Chair of Structrual Analysis

Contact

work +49 6151 16-23013

Work L5|06 620
Franziska-Braun-Straße 3
64287 Darmstadt

Michael A. Kraus is a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of Structural Analysis at the Technical University of Darmstadt since 1 April 2024. His interdisciplinary research at the boundary of civil engineering, architecture and computer science focuses on computer-aided methods and in particular artificial intelligence (AI) in order to transform planning, calculation and design from the current “computer-aided” (CAx) to “artificial intelligence-assisted” (AIx). These novel computational and analytical tools combine human intuition with the power of computing and advanced algorithms to enable a more sustainable, appealing yet reliable built environment. As an academic engineer, he follows the strictest scientific principles to transform research results into concrete and actionable recommendations for practice, standardisation and professional publications.

Lectures in structural analysis are core subjects in the civil engineering curriculum. As part of the B.Sc. programme, students are taught the fundamentals of modelling and analytical calculation methods for basic structural systems. This knowledge is supplemented and deepened in the M.Sc. programme with regard to plane structures, model abstraction and numerical calculation methods. The aim is to equip students with the necessary skills to find creative solutions to a wide range of research and engineering problems.

In the M.Sc. programme, the lecture portfolio is complemented by the content of “Scientific Machine Learning”. The focus here is on teaching complementary knowledge and methodological skills from the fields of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Deep Learning, with particular reference to civil engineering and computer-aided processes.

My research focuses on how we design, build, operate and recycle the built environment. In particular, I focus on machine and deep learning methods to transform the current “computer-aided” (CA-X) approach into an “artificial intelligence-assisted” (AIA-X) approach. In my view, these modern artificial intelligence algorithms allow an ideal combination of the technical expertise of civil engineers with the computational power of modern computers. The aim is to create a more human-centred, sustainable and aesthetic, yet reliable built environment.

Current topics include physics-informed deep learning, implicit geometry representation, data based material modelling of glass, polymers and concrete, reliability concepts, as well as computational and design approaches for new construction and manufacturing methods.

Period Acitivity
ab 04/2024 W2 Tenure Track Assistant Professorship “Structural Analysis” at the Institute of Structural Analysis and Design, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Technical University of Darmstadt
10/2020 – 02/2023 Postdoctoral Researcher at ETH Zurich, co-head of the Immersive Design Lab
01/2020 – 08/2020 Postdoctoral Researcher at Stanford University (USA)
01/2015 – 12/2019 Doctorate in engineering with honours from the University of the Federal Armed Forces in Munich
10/2008 – 09/2014 Civil Engineering and Computational Mechanics Studies at Technical University of Munich, graduating with an M.Sc.(hons) degree with honours as part of the elite “Bavarian Graduate School of Computational Engineering” programme
Jul 08 Abitur at Gustav-von-Schlör-Fachoberschule in Weiden i.d.OPf
22.02.1989 Born in Oberviechtach
married, 1 child
Memberships: Ingenieurkammer