Prof. Dr.-Ing. Kay-Uwe Schober

Hochschule Mainz - University of Applied Sciences
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Chair of Timber Engineering and Building Construction
Head of Timber and Plastics Research Group

Office: H2.18
Holzstraße 36
55116 Mainz

+49 6131 487-9072
E-Mail: please click here

Kay-Uwe Schober is a Full Professor of Timber Engineering and Building Construction, teaching together with his team Building Construction for all newbie Bachelor students in Civil Engineering, International Civil Engineering and Industrial Engineering (Construction) courses. Main focus in academics is understanding timber as sustainable building material in the construction engineering specialization for bachelor and master classes. The teaching philosophy is linked with the research activities of the Timber and Plastics Research Group and corresponding doctoral studies.

Competencies

Extensive experiences in materials sciences with research focus on sustainable building construction, wood adhesives, bio-composites, reinforcement and repair of historical buildings and structures in service,
Mechanical testing of materials and building components, nondestructive testing of wood,
Component testing and design with focus on building physics (heat/humidity/sound),
Component testing and design with focus on construction (load-bearing capacity/statics/deformation/rheology),
Support for SME and industry in the development of sustainable solutions for the construction industry,
Material, product and process development, simulation studies and analyses,
Contract and third-party research, reports, scientific advice, funding acquisition
Preparation and support of approval procedures for non-regulated construction methods (ZiE, vBg, ETA, test certificate)

Professional background

September 2009 appointment as Full Professor of Timber Engineering and Building Construction at Mainz University of Applied Sciences,
Professor of Timber Engineering and Sustainable Construction in Aachen, Germany
Doctor of Engineering degree (Dr.-Ing.) with research focus on timber structures and polymer composites, awarded with magna cum laude by the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Bauhaus-University of Weimar, Germany
Research Associate in Timber Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Bauhaus-University of Weimar, Germany
Scientific Assistant in Structural Design, University of Dortmund, Germany
Company Owner, Planungsbüro Schober ¤ Tragwerksplanung, Statik
Certified Surveyor for Timber Preservation, awarded by the European Institute for Postgraduate Studies, Dresden, Germany
Diploma degree in Civil Engineering (Dipl.-Ing.), awarded by the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Dresden University of Technology, Germany
Studies of Civil Engineering with focus on structural design, Dresden University of Technology, Germany
Apprenticeship as bricklayer, trade test and final secondary-school examination

Awards

JEC Composites - Finalist of 2010 Innovation Award, Category: Building & Construction, Paris, France
American Composites Manufacturers Association - ACMA Award for Design and Testing 2009, sponsored by The R.J. Marshall Company, Southfield, MI, USA
STIFT Foundation for Technology, Innovation and Research - STIFT Award 2009 for excellent application-oriented PhD thesis in the Free State of Thuringia, Erfurt, Germany

International engagement and memberships

European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST):
German National Representative FP (Forest, their products and services),
External Expert in the remote evaluation of COST Open Research Calls.
COST Action CA20139 - Holistic design of taller timber buildings:
WG 1: Robust Design for Adoption, Reuse and Repair,
WG 2: Deformations and Vibration,
WG 4: Sustainability and Durability.
COST Action FP1402 - Basis of Structural Timber Design:
WG4 - Hybrid Timber Structures.
COST Action TU1207 - Next Generation Design Guidelines for Composites in Construction:
WG3 - Strengthening Applications.
COST Action FP1004 - Enhance mechanical properties of timber, engineered wood products and timber structures:
Core Group Member,
German delegate to the Management Committee,
Grant Awarding Coordinator.
COST Action FP1101 - Assessment, Reinforcement and Monitoring of Timber Structures:
WG2 - Reinforcement of Timber Structures.
COST Action E34 - Bonding of Timber:
German delegate to the Management Committee
Working Group Member
Member of the International Institute for FRP in Construction (IIFC), Kingston, ON, CA
Member of International Network on Timber Engineering Research (INTER), formerly the International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction (CIB), WG18: Timber Structures
Member of Forest Product Society, US Department of Agriculture, Ruston, LA, USA

International Scientific Committee

World Conference in Timber Engineering 2025, Brisbane, Australia
World Conference in Timber Engineering 2023, Oslo, Norway
World Conference in Timber Engineering 2014, Québec City, QC, Canada
World Conference in Timber Engineering 2008, Miyazaki, Japan
Wood Adhesives 2013, Toronto, ON, Canada
Wood Adhesives 2009, South Lake Tahoe, NV, USA
International Conference on Structural Historical Constructions 2012, Wroclaw, Poland
Applications of Monitoring and ACM in the Preservation of Heritage Structures CSHM, 2010, Ottawa, ON, Canada

Journal Reviewer and Editor

European Journal of Wood and Wood Products, Holz als Roh- und Werkstoff. Springer Nature, Editors-in-Chief: K. Richter, J.W. van de Kuilen, ISSN 0018-3768
Wood Material Science & Engineering. Taylor & Francis in co-operation with The Nordic Forest Research Co-operation Committee (SNS), Editor-in-Chief: D. Sandberg, ISSN 1748-0272
Journal of Composites for Construction. American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Editor-in-Chief: F. Matta, ISSN 1090-0268
Materials and Structures, the flagship publication of the International Union of Laboratories and Experts in Construction Materials, Systems and Structures (RILEM), Springer Science, Editor-in-Chief: J. Provis, ISSN 1359-5997
Construction and Building Materials. Elsevier Science Ltd., Editors-in-Chief: J.M. Adam, M.C. Ford, ISSN 0950-0618
Engineering Structures. Elsevier Science Ltd., Lead Editor-in-Chief: Y. Jang, ISSN 0141-0296
Bautechnik, die Zeitschrift für den gesamten Ingenieurbau. Ernst & Sohn Berlin, Editor-in-Chief: D. Jesse, ISSN 0932-8351
Structures, the Research Journal of The Institution of Structural Engineers. Elsevier Science Ltd., Editor-in-Chief: L. Gardner, ISSN 2352-0124
Experimental Research with Timber. Schober, K.-U. (ed), University of Bath: Bath, United Kingdom, 2014; p. 232. ISBN 9 781857 901832.
Innovative Timber Composites - Improving wood with other materials. Schober, K.-U. (ed), University of Bath: Bath, United Kingdom, 2013; p. 48. ISBN 1 85790 178 9.
Enhance mechanical properties of timber, engineered wood products and timber structures. Schober, K.-U. (ed), University of Bath: Bath, UK, 2012; p. 264. ISBN 1 85790 176 2.

Publications

Full list in section publications

Research area

Material classification

Mechanical behavior of materials,
Fracture mechanics of timber,
Wood and timber composites,
Timber composite joints,
High-performance timber joints,
Numerical modeling of wood-based systems,
Bio-based composites,
Wood modification,
Wood adhesives,
Adhesive connections,
Concrete-type adhesives.

Strengthening and repair

Assessment of timber structures,
Structural upgrading,
Composite structures,
Fiber-reinforced plastics,
Wood adhesives,
Plastics in rehabilitation.

Timber in construction

Moisture induces stresses,
Creep and damage,
Classification and grading,
Mechanical testing,
Mass timber structures,
Timber-concrete composites,
Timber and plastics based construction.