The 36-year-old completed his studies and doctorate in numerical geotechnical engineering at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). After a stop at Ruhr University Bochum, he joined TU Darmstadt as head of the Numerical Methods working group, where he devoted himself to research and teaching in numerical and theoretical geotechnical engineering.

Machaček cites his appointment to the joint professorship of the TU and BAW in “Geotechnical Engineering of Hydraulic Infrastructure” at the Technical University of Darmstadt as his most important professional milestone. We asked Professor Machaček a few questions at the start of his tenure at the Technical University of Darmstadt:

Why should students be interested in your topics? What is exciting about your topics?

Geotechnical engineering in hydraulic engineering deals with one of the central infrastructure tasks of our time: Many locks, weirs, and bank structures are outdated and need to be upgraded or replaced during ongoing operation, while at the same time being adapted to the difficult-to-quantify effects of climate change. Anyone interested in my topics is working specifically on the question of how our waterways can remain safe and functional in 30 or 50 years' time.

What is particularly exciting is the close link between hydraulic engineering and geotechnical engineering. The two are often considered and taught separately, but for many issues, soil, water, and structures are inextricably linked and interact with each other.

The cooperative professorship with the Federal Waterways Engineering and Research Institute (BAW) offers a unique environment for research and teaching in Germany. Real-world issues from the practice of federal waterways flow directly to TU Darmstadt, where they motivate theoretical analyses and methodological developments. The findings are then reviewed and fed back into practice. This gives students insight into the entire process, from the specific problem to theoretical analysis and methodological development to modeling, calculation, and application-oriented solutions.

Interdisciplinarity is a top priority at TU Darmstadt. Where are the interfaces with other disciplines in your field of work?

Due to the interaction between soil, water, and structures, my field of work is inherently interdisciplinary. Traditionally, the fields of geotechnical engineering, hydraulic engineering, and water management, as well as statics, solid construction, and steel construction, intersect here. However, many of today's and tomorrow's challenges can only be addressed through even broader interdisciplinary cooperation.

For example, there are interfaces with geodesy, such as in the continuous condition assessment and monitoring of waterways and hydraulic structures. Similarly, questions about the influence of corrosion on the load-bearing capacity of anchors are an obvious point of contact with the field of materials in construction. In the field of numerical modeling, we work with methods based on the fundamentals of the broad field of mechanics. These fundamentals, to the development of which civil engineering has traditionally contributed greatly, now form a common methodological ‘language’ for many disciplines. Direct methodological parallels can be found in areas that at first glance seem far removed: from the modeling of biological tissues in biomechanics to applications in mechanical engineering and process engineering, such as the simulation of additive manufacturing or machining processes. These approaches are increasingly being supplemented by statistical methods and AI-supported procedures, which open up new possibilities for data evaluation and at the same time create natural interfaces with mathematics and computer science.

These examples are by no means exhaustive, but they make it clear that many future questions are not yet known today and that potential solutions may emerge in other disciplines. It is therefore important to consciously keep disciplinary boundaries open and to closely follow developments in other areas.

If I were a student today, I would…

…do some things the same way and some things differently.

What I would do differently: I would make much greater use of the opportunities to look beyond my own degree program. Specifically, that would mean consciously attending more basic lectures from other disciplines—such as mechanics, computer science, physics, or environmental (engineering) sciences. To be honest, during my studies I didn't appreciate this interdisciplinary perspective enough; today I see how important a broad methodological foundation is for understanding complex engineering issues and developing new approaches to solving them.

What I would do again: I would look for a specific project in my field early on, ideally in a student initiative that independently plans construction projects, organizes financing, and supervises construction on site. During my studies at KIT, I found such a project with the group “Engineers without Borders”: We planned a suspension bridge in Sri Lanka, raised the funds, and supervised its implementation. The experience I gained from this project—taking responsibility, working in a team, collaborating with other cultures, and seeing how an idea becomes a real building on site—was at least as formative for me as many lectures.