Gernot Beer

Gernot Beer started numerical simulation as part of his PhD work in 1973 where he

developed a simulation method for arc welding of steel plates. Since that time he

has been active in modelling, mainly in the area of underground works (mining and

tunnelling) and developed a commercial computer package (BEFE) that combines two

methods of analysis. He has been involved as a consultant in many interesting projects

around the world such as the design of caverns for the Large Hadron Collider at CERN and

an was a memeber of the international panel to assess the stability of a large underground power station in Iran.

He has written 4 text books on the subject, the first one being about 2 methods

(Finite Element and Boundary Element Method) and has coordinated many research

projects, including the world’s largest project on underground construction (EC project

TUNCONSTRUCT).

Currently he is emeritus professor of Graz University of Technology, Austria and

conjoint professor of the University of Newcastle, Australia.