Theo A.M. Salet

Theo Salet is Dean of the Department of the Built Environment and Full Professor of Structural Design / Concrete Structures.
Ever since the start of his international engineering career the focus of the work of Theo Salet is on numerical simulations, amongst hardening concrete. He has worked on a variety of noteworthy bridges, tunnels and buildings.

At TU/e, the focus of his research is on the integration of design and construction in concrete. For the early design phase, structural models are developed and validated, best described as ‘Parametric Design Tools’. For later design phases including product development he applies and develops advanced non-linear elastic finite element models for concrete: 'Numerical Concrete'. His research is constantly linked to research of practical applications of new and 'high-tech' concrete. A notable research subject is his work on 3D-printed (fiber) reinforced concrete. The research group operates and further develops its own 3D concrete printer. Here, Salet's research focuses - amongst others - on the issue of the robustness of the print process and the opportunities to embed reinforcement during the print process to enable structural applications.

Theo Salet obtained his MSc from the department of the Built Environment at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e, the Netherlands) in 1986. He subsequently performed his doctorate research on the constructive behavior of foam concrete in sandwich constructions. After obtaining his PhD in 1990, he started his career at SGS Intron in Sittard (The Netherlands) where he became head researcher in Structural and Material Engineering. In 1998 he moved to Witteveen+Bos where, as a project leader, senior constructor and contract manager, he has been responsible for the design and management of large infrastructural projects and buildings. Until 2019, Theo Salet was a senior partner at Witteveen+Bos. In 2012, next to his position at Witteveen+Bos, he was appointed part-time professor with the department of the Built Environment at TU/e.
In 2019, Theo Salet was appointed full-time Professor and Dean of the Department of the Built Environment. In this capacity, he holds final responsibility for the educational and research programs of the Department as well as for its management.

The Architecture, Engineering and Construction Industry is ready for a digital transition to join the idea of an Industry 4.0