Details about Ulrich Burbaum

Areas of work and focus

• Rock mechanics and rock construction
• Tunnel construction
• Geothermal energy, heat and energy transition
• Soil mechanics and foundation engineering
• Subsoil exploration offshore and onshore
• Excavation planning
• Flood protection, dams and dykes
• Risk communication in civil engineering

Career

• Studied civil engineering at RWTH Aachen University, graduating in 1994 with a degree in engineering
• Doctorate at the TU Darmstadt 2005 - 2009
• Professor at the h_da for Geotechnical Engineering since 2014
• Professional activities with personnel, management and cost responsibility in the field of geotechnical engineering in various engineering offices in Aachen, Darmstadt, Amersfoort (NL), Erfurt, Stuttgart, Munich, Dublin, Essen, among others
• Member of the "Expert Group on the design of underground structures" of the Joint Research Center (JRC) of the European Commission
• Member of the CEN standards committee for the revision of Eurocode 7 / DIN EN 1997 Geotechnics
• Member of standards committee 005-05-01 AA "Safety in earthworks and foundation engineering"
• Editor of the journal: Bulletin of Engineering Geology & and the Environment
• Foreign languages: English, French, Dutch

Main research areas are

• Rock mechanics, strength of rocks
• Tunnel construction, comparisons of norms and standards between European countries
• Soil mechanics & tunnel construction: adhesion of cohesive soils to material surfaces
• Perception & communication of risks in civil engineering

Selected projects:

• Chienberg Tunnel, Switzerland: rock and tunnel construction consulting / anhydrite sources
• Widderstall Tunnel, NBS Wendlingen-Ulm/Stuttgart 21: Karst exploration and remediation
• Staufen im Breisgau: Rock mechanics and hydrogeological investigations for terrain uplift and anhydrite springs
• Rock slide limestone quarry Neandertal: Expert work
• Sea Outfall Tunnel, Dublin: onshore & offshore ground investigation
• Boßler and Steinbühl tunnels, new Wendlingen-Ulm/Stuttgart 21 line: geotechnical consulting
• Hirschhorn lock, Neckar: Project and structural planning for the renovation of the first lock chamber
• Hessigheim barrage, Neckar: Project and structural planning for the refurbishment of the upper outer harbor jetty
• Linach dam, Black Forest: checking the rock mechanical calculations
• Lohberg Tunnel, Mühltal: Geotechnical documentation of the tunnel drive
• and much more.

Publications (peer reviewed)

Burbaum, U. & Sass, I. (2017): Physics of adhesion of soils to solid surfaces, Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment, ISSN 1435-9529, DOI 10.1007/s10064-016-0875-5

Sass, I. & Burbaum, U. (2012): Geothermal boreholes in Staufen i. Br.: Causes of damage, remediation options and their fundamentals, Geotechnik 35 (3): 198 - 205

Burbaum, U., Böhme, T. & Sass, I. (2011): Hydroshield tunnelling in the Lauenburg clay: Investigations on the adhesiveness of the subsoil, Geotechnics 34 (2): 108 - 114

Sass, I. & Burbaum, U. (2010): Damage to the historic town of Staufen (Germany) caused by Geothermal drillings trough Anhydrite bearing formations, Acta Carsologica, 2010, Volume 39, Issue 2: 233 - 245

Burbaum, U., Sass, I. & Breuer, B. (2010): Bonding properties of variable strength claystones using the example of the Stuttgart Lias a, Geotechnik 33 (2): 175 - 178

Sass, I. & Burbaum, U. (2008 online, 2009): A method for the measurement of adhesive properties of cohesive soils, Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment 68: 27 - 34

Lectures with publication in the conference proceedings

Burbaum, U. (2021): On the influence of loading rate on the results of uniaxial compression tests and consequences for the delimitation of homogeneous areas, 24th Symposium on Rock Mechanics and Tunneling on 07.07.2021

Lamas, L.; Nuijten, G.; Boley, C.; Burbaum, U.; Feinendegen, M.; Harrison, J. P.; Johansson, E.; Labiouse, V.; Migliazza, M. R.; Olsson, R.; Poisel. R.; Segalini, A.; Stille, H.; Virely, D.; Walter, H. (2020): Revision of the Eurocodes - aspects of geotechnical and rock engineering design, ISRM International Symposium, Eurock 2020 - Hard Rock Engineering, Trondheim, Norway, June 14-19

Burbaum, U., & Sass, I. (2019): "Geogefahren" in der öffentlichen Wahrnehmung, 21st Conference on Engineering Geology, Würzburg, Germany, pp. 64 - 68

Burbaum, U. & Krajewski, W. (2019): Homogeneous areas in earthworks and road construction, 1st Colloquium Road Construction in Practice, January 29 and 30, 2019 in Ostfildern/Stuttgart, pp. 133-138

Burbaum, U., & Sass, I. (2018): Perception and communication of geohazards, invited lecture at the LfU symposium "Geogefahren in Bayern", 13.03.2018

Schmitt, J., Monfaredpour, O., Burbaum, U., Hasanpour, R. (2018): Analyses on the loading of temporary shotcrete support with a Gripper-TBM, 11th Colloquium Building in Soil and Rock, Ostfildern

Burbaum, U. & Sass, I. (2017): Perception of technical risks of construction projects, 20th Conference on Engineering Geology, Würzburg, pp. 222 - 227

Krajeweski, W. & Burbaum, U. (2017): Homogeneous areas and their delineation, 20th Conference on Engineering Geology, Würzburg, pp. 156 - 160

Limbrock, K., Thienert, C., Leismann, F., Dombrowski, B., Malkus, J., Gross, T., Burbaum, U. (2016): Innovative Measures for dealing with Karst while Tunnelling, 6th International Symposium on Tunnels and Underground Structures in Split, Croatia, 16.-18.03.2016, Proceedings

Burbaum, U., Kielbassa, S., Limbrock, K., Trunk, S. (2016): Stuttgart-Ulm railroad project, Widderstall tunnel: Karst exploration and remediation during construction, 23rd Darmstadt Geotechnics Colloquium, Darmstadt

Burbaum, U. & Sass, I. (2013): Rock mechanical causes of cracks in buildings and roads in the town of Staufen im Breisgau, 19th Conference on Engineering Geology, Munich, pp. 315 - 320

Burbaum, U. & Kerr, A. (2012): Marine Site Investigation for Long Sea Outfall Tunnel in Dublin Bay, Ireland - The Radical Revision of Anticipated Geology and the Resulting Complexities for Tunnel Design, North American Tunneling Conference, USA, June 2012, Proceedings, pp. 578 - 584

Burbaum, U. & Sass, I. (2011): Physical aspects of adhesion of soils to solids,
18th Conference on Engineering Geology, Berlin, pp. 303 - 310

Sass, I. & Burbaum, U. (2010): Perspectives of the redevelopment of the city of Staufen im Breisgau,
17th Darmstadt Geotechnics Colloquium, Darmstadt, pp. 27 - 35

Sass,I., Burbaum, U. & Petrat, L. (2009): Staufen im Breisgau: Artesian groundwater, anhydrite and karst in conflict with geothermal drilling, 17th Conference on Engineering Geology, Zittau, pp. 349 - 355.

Hempel, D., Burbaum, U. & Sass, I. (2009): Laboratory test to determine the adhesive properties of cohesive soils, 17th Conference on Engineering Geology, Zittau, pp. 405 - 401

Burbaum, U. & Sass, I. (2008): Quantification of adhesion stresses of cohesive soils for mechanized tunnelling, 30th Baugrundtagung, Dortmund, pp. 271 - 278.

Burbaum, U. & Sass, I. (2008): Method for determining the adhesion properties of cohesive soils as a basis for assessing the risk of bonding in mechanized tunnelling,
15th Darmstadt Geotechnics Colloquium, Darmstadt, pp. 191 - 204

Heigold, M., Burbaum, U. & Wawrzyniak, C. (2006): Staustufe Hessigheim, Planung und Bau der Anlegestelle oberer Vorhafen im Erdfallgebiet, 5th Colloquium Bauen in Boden und Fels, Ostfildern,
pp. 63 - 68

Seeger, K. J., Burbaum, U. & Krajewski, W. (2006): Consideration of economic aspects in tunnel constructions in early planning phases, 5th Colloquium Bauen in Boden und Fels, Ostfildern,
pp. 243 - 248

Burbaum, U. & Krajewski, W. (2006): Special features of tunnel driving in crystalline rocks of the German low mountain ranges, 5th Colloquium Bauen in Boden und Fels, Ostfildern, pp. 249 - 254

Krajewski, W., Burbaum, U. & Hass, H. (2004): Risikomanagement bei Planung und Bau von Tunnelbauwerken, 4th Colloquium Bauen in Boden und Fels, Ostfildern, pp. 247 - 254

Burbaum, U., Krajewski, W., Gwildis, U. & Ebbinghaus, E. (2004): Drift and tunnel excavation in protected areas for medicinal springs in the Rhine-Main region, excavation concepts and risk minimization,
4th Colloquium Bauen in Boden und Fels, Ostfildern, pp. 255 - 260

Sass, I., Burbaum, U., Köhler, M. & Lombardi, A. (2004): Brenner Basis Tunnel - Status of geotechnical exploration, 4th Colloquium Bauen in Boden und Fels, Ostfildern, pp. 457 - 460.

Lectures

Burbaum, U. (2018): Geotechnical and environmental delimitation of homogeneous areas according to VOB/C 2016, invited lecture at the annual general meeting of the Verband Baugewerblicher Unternehmer Hessen / Bezirksstelle und Innung des Bauhandwerks für den Kreis Bergstraße, 25.04.2018

Burbaum, U. (2018): Challenges of the heating transition: Perspektiven und Lösungsansätze, lecture at the colloquium Wärmewende, Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences, 25.01.2018

Burbaum, U. & Krajewski, W. (2016): Homogeneous areas in earthworks - practical experience, invited lecture as part of the expert experience circle of the Association of Construction Contractors in Hesse, 25.10.2017

Burbaum, U. & Krajewski, W. (2016): VOB/C: Introduction of the homogeneous areas, invited lecture at the 24th expert seminar in Hanover, 18-19.11.2016

Burbaum, U. & Krajewski, W. (2016): Earthworks according to the new VOB/C DIN 18300 / homogeneous areas, invited lecture at the expert experience circle of the Association of Construction Contractors in Hesse, 21.04.2016

Burbaum, U. (2015): Engineering geological damage cases, Federal Geosciences Student Council Conference at the TU Darmstadt, invited lecture on 06.06.2015

Burbaum, U. (2014): Bahnprojekt Stuttgart-Ulm: Erkundung und bautechnische Behandlung von Karsthohlräumen beim Tunnel Widderstall, invited lecture on 07.07.2014, Geotechnik-Seminar am Institut für Geotechnik, Universität Stuttgart

Burbaum, U. (2013): Erkundung und bautechnische Behandlung von Karsthohlräumen beim Tunnel Widderstall, invited lecture on 21.11.2013 at the 31st Essener Fachgespräch Spezialtiefbau

Burbaum, U., Sass, I. (2013): Der Schadensfall Staufen im Breisgau, invited lecture on 13.06.2013 at the Forum Geotechnik of the RWTH Aachen University

Burbaum, U. & Sass, I. (2012): Staufen - auch ein Schadensfall der Kommunikation? invited lecture, Praxisforum Erdwärme "Geothermie in der öffentlichen Wahrnehmung", Freiberg, May 10, 2012

Sass, I. & Burbaum, U. (2009): Quality assurance for geothermal probe projects: Planning, approval, monitoring and execution in complex geological conditions using the example of Staufen i. Br., Der Geothermiekongress, Workshop Staufen

Sass, I. & Burbaum, U. (2009): Drilling through aquifers and anhydrite-bearing layers and massive building damage in Staufen i. Br., invited lecture on 10.09.2009 at the GeoForschungszentrum Potsdam

Sass, I. & Burbaum, U. (2009): Artesian groundwater, anhydrite and karst phenomena in conflict with geothermal probes: Überlegungen zur Schadensursache im Fall Staufen im Breisgau, invited lecture on 29.09.2009 at the colloquium of the Institute of Geosciences of the University of Freiburg

Burbaum, U. (2006): Tragwerksplanung im konventionellen Tunnelbau, invited lecture on 05.10.2006 in Frankfurt as part of the lecture events of
Fa. Wayss & Freytag Ingenieurbau AG

Burbaum, U.: (2005): Kostenfaktoren bei Tunnelbauwerken, invited lecture at the 4th Workshop Tunnelbau der Hessischen Ämter für Straßen- und Verkehrswesen on 29.06.2005

Books

Schmitt, J.; Burbaum, U.; Bormann, A. (2021) Simmer Grundbau 1, Springer-Verlag

Burbaum, U., Krajewski, W. & Seeger, K. J. (2006): Economic aspects of tunnel construction in early planning phases, Hessisches Landesamt für Straßen- und Verkehrswesen, Issue 52-2006,
60 pages

Author collective (2013): Deep geothermal energy, VBI guideline, Volume 21 of the VBI publication series, 123 pages

Dissertation

Adhesion of cohesive soils to material surfaces of tunnel boring machines,
TU Darmstadt, 2009, 207 pages

Other publications

Schmitt, J.; Bayrakci, B.; Burbaum, U. (2019): Technology Trends for mechanized Tunnelling in loose Rock. GeoResources journal (1-2020), pp. 27-30.

Schmitt, J.; Bayrakci, B.; Burbaum, U. (2019): Machine technology development trends in mechanized tunneling in loose rock. GeoResources journal (4-2019), pp. 33-36.

Athanasopoulou, A; Bezuijen, A; Bogusz, W; Bournas, D; Brandtner, M; Breunese, A; Burbaum, U; Dimova, S; Frank, R; Ganz, H; Grunicke, U; Jung, H; Lewandowska, A; Nuijten, G; Pecker, A; Psomas, S; Roessler, K; Sciotti, A; Sousa M.L., Stille, H; Subrin D, (2019): Standardization Needs for the Design of Underground Structures, EUR 29633 EN, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2019, ISBN 978-92-79-99075-5, doi:10.2760/615209, JRC115352

Schmitt, J.; Monfaredpur, O.; Burbaum, U.; Hasanpour, R. (2018): Tunnelling with Gripper TBMs - Pre-detensioning Factor for Dimensioning the Shotcrete Shell. GeoResources Journal (2-2018), pp. 16-22.

Schmitt, J., Burbaum, U., Hasanpour, R., Monfaredpour, O. (2018): Analysis of rock mass plasticization in the bracing area of gripper tunnel boring machines, Construction and Energy efficiency in the 21st century, Proceedings of the third Russian-German scientific conference, March 19-20, 2018 Ulyanovsk, Russia

Krajewski, W., Azizov, Z., Burbaum, U. (2018): Contractual description of soil and rock. A comparison of Russian and German standards, Construction and Energy efficiency in the 21st century, Proceedings of the third Russian-German scientific conference, March 19-20, 2018 Ulyanovsk, Russia

Schmitt, J.; Monfaredpur, O.; Burbaum, U.; Hasanpour, R. (2018): Tunnel excavation with Gripper-TBM - Pre-relief factor for dimensioning the shotcrete lining. GeoResources Magazine (1-2018), pp. 19-25

Schmitt, J., Burbaum, U., Hasanpour, R., Monfaredpour, O. (2017): Stress-deformation behavior of the rock mass during tunnelling with a Gripper TBM, Konstruktiver Ingenieurbau, Bundesanzeiger-Verlag, 05/2017, pp. 9 - 16

Schmitt, J., Monfaredpour, O., Burbaum, U., Hasanpour, R. (2017): Criterion for Predicting the Risk of a Gripper TBM Jamming, GeoResources Journal, Vol. 3 (2017), Issue 2-2017, pp. 25-34

Schmitt, J., Monfaredpour, O., Burbaum, U., Hasanpour, R. (2017): Criterion for predicting the risk of jamming of a gripper TBM, GeoResources Journal, Vol. 3 (2017), Issue 1-2017, pp. 29-38

Burbaum, U., Krajewski, W. (2015): Fact sheet conversion of soil and rock classes to homogeneous areas using the example of DIN 18300

Burbaum, U., Krajewski, W. (2015): The new DIN 18300 - Earthworks, advanced training seminar on behalf of the Verband baugewerblicher Unternehmer Hessen e.V.

Sass, I.; Hoppe, A.; Burbaum, U.; Lerch, C. & Wawrzyniak, C. (2006): Bauen im Thermalwasserdistrikt - Geothermische Erkundung, poster presentation at the 9th Geothermal Symposium in Karlsruhe.

Burbaum, U., Wawrzyniak, C. & Krajewski, W. (2006): Tunnel excavation in crystalline low mountain ranges, Beratende Ingenieure, No. 3, pp. 30 - 32

In principle, final theses are always offered in the field of rock mechanics and tunnel construction. Details are developed in personal discussions.

However, you are also welcome to suggest your own topics from the above-mentioned areas of specialization or courses. We can then develop a task together in personal discussions. Cooperation with external partners is expressly desired.