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Dzenis' Laboratories
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W315 Nebraska Hall
144, 137, 128, 147, 110 Walter Scott Engineering Complex
Department of Engineering Mechanics
University of Nebraska
Lincoln, NE 68588-0526
Phone: (402) 472-0713
Fax: (402) 472-8292
E-mail: ydzenis@unl.edu |
Advanced Nanomaterials and Nanomanufacturing LaboratoriesThis unique, 2.1 million-dollar, multidisciplinary experimental facility on nanomanufacturing, nanomaterials, and nano/micromechanics has been developed by Dr. Dzenis from 1995-present with funding from NSF, AFOSR, and ARO (Dzenis has served as PI/PD on five equipment grants including NSF ARI, REG, IMR, and DURIP projects). In addition to the equipment below, extensive facilities of UNL’s interdepartmental Center for Materials Research and Analysis (SEM, X-ray, metallographic facilities, and others) are available for use at a nominal charge.
- Multiple electrospinning stations
- Fume hood and equipment for chemical processing
- Nanoparticle and nanofiber preparation and functionalization facility
- Custom-designed multistage high-temperature environmental oven for continuous nanomanufacturing
- Aerospace-grade composite preparation equipment
- Ultrahigh-speed video imaging system for observation and analysis of electrospinning jet instabilities and dynamic fracture processes
- Multiple mini- and micro-stages for miniature specimen testing, including computerized ultrasensitive stages for in-situ mechanical testing inside SEM and FE-SEM chambers or under continuous AFM or SAM observations
- Comprehensive thermal and thermomechanical materials characterization facility, including TGA, DSC, and multiple DMTAs
- Two servohydraulic machines for mechanical testing of advanced materials and composites with digital test control and data acquisition systems and thermal chamber
- Fixtures for tensile, compressive, bending, and fracture mechanics testing; multiple uniaxial and biaxial extensometers, including water-cooled high temperature extensometer
- Equipment for low- and high-cycle fatigue testing, including isothermal and thermomechanical fatigue evaluation
- Unique multiscale NDE facility comprising state-of-the-art ultrasonic immersion scanner, leading edge scanning acoustic tomograph, “true” scanning acoustic microscope (SAM) with 1.3 GHz imaging capability, and a universal scanning probe microscope with specimen modulation capability
- Atomic force microscope (AFM) with environmental and thermal cells and mechanical testing stage for in-situ observations
- Advanced acoustic emission system with digital transient recorder and extensive signal analysis software
- Stages and fixtures for interfacial testing of composites
The group also has extensive computing facilities for simulating nanomanufacturing processes and material behavior.
Polymer Composites LaboratoryProperties of advanced lightweight fiber reinforced polymer composites are studied in this laboratory. The laboratory includes a hot press for manufacturing thermoplastic composites, closed-loop programmable testing machines for quasistatic and fatigue testing, nondestructive evaluation equipment, and modern data acquisition hardware and software. A specialized press-clave to produce thermoset composites, thermal analysis equipment, and devices for mechanical characterization of interfaces between fibers and matrices are available.
Nondestructive Evaluation Laboratory
This laboratory is used for detection and analysis of internal damage and flaws in advanced polymer composites and other engineering materials. The methods utilized include acoustic emission, acousto-ultrasonics, and ultrasonic scanning. A state-of-the-art acoustic emission system is used for studying damage evolution under loading. This system combines a fully digital architecture with high processing dynamics which allows for studying material response under fast dynamic loads. The system is capable of simultaneous acquisition of acoustic emission parameters, and transient data and is equipped with location software and FFT software. Extensive filtering, cluster analysis, and pattern recognition capabilities, including unique AE signal classification methods developed by the group, enable damage type identification and extraction of histories for different micromechanisms. This acoustic emission system with a pulser is also used in acousto-ultrasonic experiments. Shape and spectrum analyses of acoustic waves propagated through partially damaged materials are used to evaluate average damage parameters. A leading edge ultrasonic immersion system is used for spatial mapping of internal flaws. In addition to regular A-scan, B-scan, and C-scan, the system provides specialized capabilities such as full digital waveform storage and analysis at each location, digital filtering, FFT analysis, and 3-dimensional imaging. A high signal conversion rate permits use of high resolution transducers with resonant frequencies within a frequency range of scanning acoustic microscopes.
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