Walter Kaufmann

Walter Kaufmann is the Chair of Structural Engineering (Concrete Structures and Bridge Design) at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich. He studied at the Department of Civil Engineering, ETH Zurich, and received his diploma in 1992. Subsequently, he developed a novel testing facility for large-scale beam elements, the „Beam Element Tester”, and carried out several large-scale experiments on reinforced and prestressed beams as a research assistant of Prof. Dr. Peter Marti. He received his doctorate in 1998 with a dissertation on the load-deformation behaviour of structural concrete subjected to in-plane shear and normal forces, which was awarded the ETH-Medal. He then continued at the ETH as a research associate and lecturer for plate and shell structures. From 1999-2002 he was a project manager and technical director with the renowned bridge designer, Prof. Juan José Arenas, Santander, Spain, where he contributed significantly to the design and construction of several large bridges. After his return to Switzerland, he joined the engineering firm dsp Ingenieure & Planer, where he became a partner in 2005 and acted as CEO until his appointment at the ETH in May 2014. During this time, he participated successfully in several bridge design competitions, directed numerous structural engineering projects for buildings and bridges, and was involved in a large number of expert appraisals, particularly regarding the structural safety evaluation and retrofit of existing bridges. In order to preserve a direct link to engineering practice, Walter Kaufmann is maintaining a connection to dsp Ingenieure & Planer AG as a board member and expert consultant.

Walter Kaufmann is responsible for courses in structural concrete and bridge design. His research focuses on the load-deformation behaviour of structural concrete, the structural safety evaluation of existing bridges and buildings, innovative structures and bridges, as well as interdisciplinary research projects. Since 2016, he has been active in the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Digital Fabrication (associated 2016-2018, Lead Principal Investigator since 2018).

He is, inter alia, the Chairman of SIA Code Commission 262, Concrete Structures, member of fib Commission 2 Analysis and Design and delegate of the Swiss Group of fib (fédération internationale du béton) as well as member of the Swiss Working Group for Bridge Research of the Federal Roads Administration.