VAH

We held our semi-annual PhD seminar at the Sattelmühle-Foundation from the 24 to 26 March. 17 colleagues from KIT and the University of Innsbruck exchanged ideas on current research questions, methods, and interim results. A key part of the seminar is a professionally guided excursion; this time a walk in the woods. Thanks to Prof. Hilger and Burkhard Steckel, we were able to experience the development of the Sattelmühle Forest up close and gain valuable insights into the impact of climate change on the forest and the building material wood. Special thanks go to the Sattelmühle-Foundation for their generous support and to the Verein der Freunde der Versuchsanstalt e.V. for organizing this seminar.

https://sattelmuehle-stiftung.org

VAH

The ‘Guideline for the Reuse of Structural Load-Bearing Elements’ is now available! Our project team is excited to announce the publication of this guideline. The new guideline for the reuse of structural load-bearing elements offers planners valuable support in the environmentally friendly and building law-compliant reuse of steel and timber components. It contains practice-orientated methods for the dismantling, preparing and reintegration of structural components as well as regulatory recommendations for implementation in accordance with German building law. The guide shows that the reuse of structural components is not just feasible, but also regulation-compliant - a crucial step towards promoting sustainable building practices in the construction sector. The full guideline and accompanying research report are now available.

VAH

KIT Timber Structures has been researching timber construction for over a century. When Philipp Dietsch took office, he committed himself to digitizing all research reports, dissertations and proceedings of our institute and making them freely accessible. Today we are delighted that this mission has been fulfilled! The digitization was time-consuming, but the result is worth it. You can download original works such as Karl Möhler's habilitation (1956) or Hans Joachim Blaß' dissertation (1987) from our website. You will also find conference proceedings from 52 years of INTER / CIB W-18 and 25 years of Karlsruher Tage. Discover the entire archive here: https://holz.vaka.kit.edu/19.php

VAH

We, KIT Timber Structures and Building Construction, are looking for a full-time carpenter or joiner (f/m/d) with the option of part-time employment. In this position you will support our laboratory with a variety of tasks, including

- Woodworking (e.g. preperation of test specimens)

- Carrying out material tests

- Preparation and production of test equipment, e.g. for tests on components or joints

- Handling testing machines, including for large-scale component tests

All further information can be found on the official job advertisement of the KIT.

VAH

We, KIT Timber Structures and Building Construction, are looking for a workshop employee (f/m/d) in the field of metalworking (full-time with the option of part-time). In this position, you will support our laboratory with a variety of tasks, including:

- Metalworking and materials testing

- Carrying out material tests

- Preparation and production of test equipment for large-scale tests in component dimensions

- Handling testing machines

All further information can be found on the official job advertisement of the KIT.

Uli Regenscheit

After extensive development work in an interdisciplinary team, we were excited to unveil our Guideline for Reusing Structural Steel and Timber Elements at the symposium “Less Träsh,” organized by the Ministry for Regional Development and Housing. In collaboration with KIT and the Technische Universität München (TUM), this guideline aims to provide actionable steps for reusing structural building components, helping to conserve resources in construction.
The key takeaway from our results is clear: the reuse of structural elements from steel and timber is not only feasible but can also be aligned with regulatory standards. In other words, it’s time for the building sector to roll up our sleeves and take action!

VAH

A lot has happened since the last Karlsruher Tage: resource-efficient construction, detachable connections and the reuse of components have long been part of everyday life, and "Tall Timber" is common practice. Special thanks go to the speakers whose presentations realised the motto "Research for practice". The event was a success thanks to your participation and the dialogue between colleagues. The positive response encourages us to organise the Karlsruher Tage again in two years' time - with the traditional closing in the laboratory.

Susanne Jacob-Freitag

Congratulations to Sven Teichmann on being awarded the Professor-Blaß-University-Prize 2024 for his master's thesis. Under the title ‘Brittle failure modes in timber connections with laterally loaded fasteners - A comparison of design proposals’, the work highlights the design model for brittle failure modes in connections. The results of the work have a direct influence on the revision of Eurocode 5. Presenter Andreas Hettich emphasised the outstanding scientific depth and practical relevance of the work. The prize was awarded for the first time and is sponsored by the association of tool manufacturers for timber screws.