Rate My Professor Klaus Thoeni

Thoeni's research centers on advanced numerical methods—Boundary Element Method, Finite Element Method, and Discrete Element Method—applied to underground excavations, rock mechanics, geomechanics, mining, and rockfall protection systems. He participates in the YADE open-source software development for Discrete Element Method simulations of geomaterial dynamics and previously developed BEFE++ for underground excavation analysis. His interests extend to photogrammetry, programming, parallel processing, and machine learning. He has supervised 10 PhD completions and secured over $6 million in grants from the Australian Research Council and industry sources like Glencore and Australian Coal Research Limited. Awards include the Industry Engagement Excellence Award (2021), Excellence Award for Research Supervision (2020), Outstanding Research Award (2017), IACMAG Excellent Paper Award (2014), SIMNET Styria Geotechnics Research Award (2010), and Amann Award (2003). Key publications are 'Qualitative rockfall hazard assessment: a comprehensive review of current practices' (Ferrari, Giacomini, Thoeni, 2016), 'A 3D discrete element modelling approach for rockfall analysis with drapery systems' (Thoeni et al., 2014), 'Yade Documentation' (Smilauer et al., 2015), and 'Discrete modelling of hexagonal wire meshes with a stochastically distorted contact model' (Thoeni et al., 2013). His contributions advance geotechnical hazard management and infrastructure protection.