Education

University of Texas at Arlington, Ph.D. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (1994)
Latvian Academy of Sciences, Riga, Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering (1990)
Latvian University, Riga, M.S. in Physics (1982)

Research Interests

Advanced nanomaterials and nanomanufacturing

• Experimental and theoretical analysis of electrospinning process
• Development of methods of electrospinning process control
• Development of novel continuous polymer, carbon, and ceramic nanofibers
• Design and manufacturing of multifunctional nanofibrous materials and devices
• Experimental and theoretical damage and fracture mechanics
• Development of methods for testing and evaluation of nanofibers and composites
• Experimental and theoretical nano- and micro-mechanics
• Biomimetic materials and processes
• Fatigue analysis and life prediction
• Intelligent multiscale nondestructive evaluation

Research Projects

Multiple projects on advanced nanomaterials, nanomanufacturing, electrospinning, advanced continuous nanofibers, nanocomposites, and intelligent NDE are supported by NSF, AFOSR, ARO, ARL, and DARPA. Graduate and undergraduate research assistantships are often available. For further details about current assistantships, contact Dr. Dzenis.

Research Laboratories

Group’s research is being conducted in the state-of-the-art $2.1M multidisciplinary Advanced Nanomaterials and Nanomanufacturing Laboratories. The Laboratories built with funding from multiple external instrumentation grants, including NSF ARI, REG, IMR, and DURIP projects, include extensive nanomanufacturing, process analysis, and multiscale thermomechanical evaluation equipment. Polymer Composites and Nondestructive Evaluation Laboratories are also used in research and teaching (see Dzenis' Laboratories). The group also has excellent computing facilities and access to UNL's PrairieFire supercomputer.

Selected Publications

Dzenis, Y., "Structural Nanocomposites", Science, 2008, Vol. 319, pp. 419-420 (AAAS links to paper summary or full text)

Dzenis, Y., “Spinning Continuous Fibers for Nanotechnology”, Science, 2004, Vol. 304, pp.1917-1919 (AAAS links to paper summary or full text)

Wu, X.-F. and Dzenis, Y.A., "Phase-Field Modeling of the Formation of Lamellar Nanostructures in Diblock Copolymer Thin Films under Planar Electric Fields", Physical Review E, 2008, Vol. 77, 031807 (10 pp)

Kumar, A., Lijun, W., Dzenis, Y.A., Jones, D.D., Hanna, M.A., "Thermogravimetric Characterization of Corn Stover as Gasification and Pyrolysis Feedstock", Biomass and Bioenergy, 2008 (in press)

Wu, X.-F., Dzenis, Y.A., Strabala, K.W., “Free-Edge Stresses and Progressive Cracking in Surface Coatings of Curcular Torsion Bars”, International Journal of Solids and Structures, 2008, Vol. 45, pp. 2251-2264

Naragi, M., Chasiotis, I., Kahn, H., Wen, Y., Dzenis, Y., “Mechanical Deformation and Failure of Electrospun Polyacrylonitrile Nanofibers as a Function of Strain Rate”, Applied Physics Letters, 2007, Vol. 91, 151901

Wu, X.-F. and Dzenis, Y., "Size Effect in Polymer Nanofibers Under Tension", Journal of Applied Physics, 2007, Vol. 102, 044306 (6pp)

Naragi, M., Chasiotis, I., Kahn, H., Wen, Y., Dzenis, Y., “Novel Method of Mechanical Characterization of Polymeric Nanofibers”, Review of Scientific Instruments, 2007, Vol. 78, 085108 (7pp)

Yuya, P.A., Wen, Y., Li, Z., Turner, J.A., and Dzenis, Y., “Determination of Young’s Modulus of Individual Electrospun Nanofibers by Microcantilever Vibration Method”, Applied Physics Letters, 2007, Vol. 90, 111909 (3pp)

Wu, X.-F. and Dzenis, Y., "Adhesive Contacts in Filaments", Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, 2007, Vol. 40, pp. 4276-4280

Wu, X., Ghoshal,G., Kartashov, M., Aslan, Z., Turner, J. and Dzenis, Y., “Experimental Characterization of the Impact-Damage Tolerance of a Cross-Ply Graphite-Fiber/Epoxy Laminate”, Polymer Composites, 2007 (in press)

Wu, X., Dzenis, Y., Strabala, K., “Wrinkling of a Charged Elastic Film on a Viscous Layer”, Meccanica, 2007, Vol. 42, No. 3, pp. 273-282

Wu, X.-F. and Dzenis, Y., "Collapse Analysis of Nanofibers ", Nanotechnology, 2007, Vol. 18, No. 28, 285702 (6pp)

Chiew, S.Y., Wen, Y., Dzenis, Y., and Leong, K.W., "The Role of Electrospinning in the Emerging Field of Nanomedicine” (invited review), Current Pharmaceutical Design (special issue on Nanomedicine and Drug Delivery), 2006, 12: 4751-4770

Wu, X. and Dzenis, Y., “Droplet on a Fiber: Geometrical Shape and Contact Angle”, Acta Mechanica, 2006, Vol. 185, pp. 215-225

Wu, X. and Dzenis, Y., “Wave Propagation in Nanofibers”, Journal of Applied Physics, 2006, Vol. 100, 124318 (4pp)

Ren, X., Dzenis, Y., “Novel Continuous Poly(vinylidene fluoride) Nanofibers”, MRS Symp. Proc. Vol. 920, Materials Research Society, 2006, 0920-S03-03 (7pp)

Wu, X. and Dzenis, Y., “Guided Self-Assembly of Diblock Copolymer Thin Films on Chemically Patterned Substrates”, Journal of Chemical Physics, 2006, Vol. 125, 174707

Wu, X,  and Dzenis, Y. “Elasticity of Planar Nanofiber Networks”, Journal of Applied Physics, 2005, 98(9): 093501-9

Wu, X. and Dzenis, Y., "Electrohydrodynamic instability of thin conductive liquid films", Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics 2005, 38 (16): 2848-2850

Wu, X. and Dzenis, Y., “Determination of dynamic delamination toughness of a graphite-fiber/epoxy composite using Hopkinson pressure bar”, Polymer Composites 2005, 26(2): 165-180

Wu, X. and Dzenis, Y., “Experimental determination of probabilistic edge-delamination strength of a graphite-fiber/epoxy composite”, Composite Structures 2005, 70(1): 100-108

Wu, X. and Dzenis, Y., "Antiplane surface acoustic waves (SAWs) propagating in elastic half-space coated with an anisotropic laminate", Composites Science and Technology 2005, 65(11-12): 1761-1768

Xu, Y. X., Dzenis, Y., and Hanna, M. A., “Water solubility, thermal characteristics and biodegradability of extruded starch acetate foams“, Industrial Crops and Products, 2005, vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 361-368

Wu, X., Dzenis, Y. , and Gokdag, E., Edge-cracked orthotropic bimaterial butt joint under anti-plane singularity. International Journal of Nonlinear Sciences and Numerical Simulation 5(4): 347-354 (2004)

Kwon, O. Y. and Dzenis, Y., “Embedded PVDF Film Sensor for In-Situ Monitoring of Structural Integrity of Laminated Composites”, Key Engineering Materials, 2004, no. 270/273, pp. 1929-1934

Wu, X.-F., Dzenis, Y., and Rinschen, B.D., “Screw dislocation interacting with interfacial edge-cracks in piezoelectric bimaterial strips,” International Journal of Nonlinear Sciences and Numerical Simulation, 2004, 5(4): 341-346

Wu, X., Dzenis, Y., and Fan, T., “Two Semi-Infinite Interfacial Cracks Between Two Bonded Dissimilar Elastic Strips”, International Journal of Engineering Science, 2003, Vol. 41, No. 15, pp. 1699-1710

Wu, X., Dzenis, Y., and Fan, T., "Screw dislocation interacting with twin interfacial edge cracks between two bonded dissimilar piezoelectric strips", Mechanics Research Communications, 2003, 30: 547-555

Dzenis, Y., “Cycle-based Analysis of Damage and Failure in Advanced Composites Under Fatigue. 1 - Experimental Observation of Damage Development Within Loading Cycles”, International Journal of Fatigue, 2003, Vol. 25, No. 6, pp. 499-510

Dzenis, Y., “Cycle-based Analysis of Damage and Failure in Advanced Composites Under Fatigue. 2 - Stochastic Mesomechanics Modeling”, International Journal of Fatigue, 2003, Vol. 25, No. 6, pp. 511-520

Wu, X., Dzenis, Y., and Zou, W., "Moving screw dislocation in piezoelectric bimaterials", Physica Status Solidi B: Basic Research, 2003, Vol. 238, No. 1, pp. 120-126

Wu, X., Dzenis, Y., and Zou, W., "Interfacial Edge Crack between two Bonded Dissimilar Orthotropic Strips under Antiplane Point Loading", ZAMM, 2003, Vol. 83, No. 6, pp. 419-422

Wu, X., Cohn, S., Dzenis, Y., "Screw Dislocation Interacting with Interface and Interfacial Cracks in Piezoelectric Bimaterials", International Journal of Engineering Science, 2003, Vol. 41, No. 7, pp. 667-682

Qin, M. and Dzenis, Y., “Analysis of Single Lap Adhesive Composite Joints with Delaminated Adherends“, Composites B: Engineering, 2003, Vol. 34, No. 2, pp. 167-173

Dzenis, Y., Qin, M., and Pagano, N., “A Method of Evaluation of Transverse Critical Energy Release Rate (Fiber Failure Mode) in Advanced Composites”, International Journal of Fracture, 2003, Vol. 118, No. 1, pp. l1-l6

Dzenis, Y. and Qian, J., “Analysis and Identification of Acoustic Emission from Damage and Internal Friction in Advanced Composites Under Fatigue”, Journal of Acoustic Emission, 2002, Vol. 20, pp. 99-107

Dzenis, Y. and Saunders, I., “On the Possibility of Discrimination of Mixed Mode Fatigue Fracture Mechanisms in Adhesive Composite Joints by Advanced Acoustic Emission Analysis”, International Journal of Fracture, 2002, Vol. 117, No. 4, pp. l23-l28

Wu, X., Dzenis, Y., and Zou, W., "Screw Dislocation Interacting With an Interfacial Edge Crack Between Two Bonded Dissimilar Piezoelectric Wedges", International Journal of Fracture, 2002, Vol. 117, No. 3, pp. l9-l14

Qian, J. and Dzenis, Y., “Extraction of Histories of Damage Micromechanisms in Unidirectional Composites by Transient-Parametric Analysis“, Journal of Acoustic Emission, Dec 2002, Vol. 20, pp. 16-24

Wu, X. and Dzenis, Y., "Closed-Form Solution For the Size of Plastic Zone in an Edge-Cracked Strip", International Journal of Engineering Science, 2002, Vol. 40, pp. 1751-1759

Wu, X. and Dzenis, Y., "Closed-Form Solution For a Mode-III Interfacial Edge Crack Between Two Bonded Dissimilar Anisotropic Strips", Mechanics Research Communications, 2002, Vol. 29, No. 5, pp. 407-412

Dzenis, Y. and Wen, Y., “Continuous Carbon Nanofibers for Nanofiber Composites”, MRS Paper 47481, Proc. 2001 MRS Fall Meeting, Boston, November 2001, 8 p.

Kayupov, M. and Dzenis, Y.A., “Stress Concentrations Caused by a Bond Crack in a Single-Lap Composite Joint”, Composite Structures, 2001, Vol. 54, pp. 215-220

Wu, X. and Dzenis, Y., “Rate Effects on Mode-I Delamination Toughness of a Graphite/Epoxy Laminated Composite”, International Journal of Fracture, 2001, Vol. 112, pp. l9-l12

Dzenis, Y. and Qian, J., "Analysis of Microdamage Evolution Histories in Composites", International Journal of Solids and Structures, Vol. 38, 2001, pp. 1831-1854

Dzenis, Y., Reneker, D.H. Delamination resistant composites prepared by small diameter fiber reinforcement at ply interfaces 2001, US Patent No. 626533 (other patents pending)

Dzenis, Y., Reneker, D.H., Spivak, A., and Fong, H., “Bending Instability of a Charged Viscoelastic Jet in Electrospinning: Experimental Observations and Analysis”, NSF DMII Grantees Conference Proceedings, Vancouver, January 2000

Spivak, A., Dzenis, Y., and Reneker, D.H., “A Model of Steady State Jet in the Electrospinning Process”, Mechanics Research Communications, Vol. 27, No 1, 2000, pp. 37-42

Spivak, A. and Dzenis, Y., "A Condition on the Existence of a Conductive Liquid Meniscus in an External Electric Field", Journal of Applied Mechanics, 1999, Vol. 66, December, pp. 1026-28

Spivak, A. and Dzenis, Y., "Asymptotic Decay of Radius of a Weakly Conductive Viscose Jet in an External Electric Field", Applied Physics Letters, 1998, Vol. 73, No. 21, pp. 3067-3070

Dzenis, Y., "Effective Thermo-Visco-Elastic Properties of Fibrous Composites with Fractal Interfaces and an Interphase", Composite Science and Technology, 1997, Vol. 57, No. 8, pp. 1057-1063.

Dzenis, Y. and Joshi, S.P., “Effect of Loading Parameters on Damage Induced Shear-Extension Coupling in a Laminate,” AIAA Journal, 1997, Vol. 35, No. 3, pp. 578-580

Dzenis, Y. and Joshi, S.P., “Long-Term Strength and Damage Analysis of Laminated Composites,” AIAA Journal, 1997, Vol. 35, No. 6, pp. 1057-1063

Dzenis, Y., “Stochastic Damage Evolution Modeling in Laminates”, Journal of Thermoplastic Composite Materials, 1996, Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 21-34.

Dzenis, Y., "Hierarchial Nano/Micro Materials Based on Electrospun Polymer Fibers: Predictive Models for Thermomechanical Behavior", Journal of Computer-Aided Materials Design, 1996, Vol. 3, pp. 403-408.

Dzenis, Y., Reneker, D.H., Tsukruk, V.V., and Patil, R., “Fractal Analysis of Surfaces of Advanced Reinforcing Fibers by Atomic Force Microscopy,” Composite Interfaces, 1994, Vol. 2, pp. 307-319.

Dzenis, Y., Joshi, S.P., and Bogdanovich, A.E., “Damage Evolution Modeling in Orthotropic Laminated Composites”, AIAA Journal, 1994, Vol. 32, pp. 357-364.

Dzenis, Y. and Joshi, S.P., “Inhomogeneous Anisotropic Percolation: Two-Dimensional Numerical Threshold Analysis”, Physical Review B, 1994, Vol. 49, pp. 3566-3568.