Dr. Erik T. Thostenson

Assistant Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of Delaware
126 Spencer Lab
Newark, DE 19716

Phone: 302-831-8789
Fax: 302-831-3619
Email: thosten@udel.edu

Dr. Thostenson's Full CV: [pdf] [html]

Executive Summary

Dr. Thostenson is currently Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Delaware.  Professor Thostenson's research focuses on processing and characterization of composite materials focusing on carbon nanotube and advanced fiber reinforcements toward the development of novel multifunctional composites and micro/nano mechanics modeling techniques. His research has been cited more than 3400 times in the scientific literature (ISI database, H-index: 20). During the course of his research he has developed novel processing and characterization techniques for the development of structure/property relationships in nanotube-reinforced polymer and ceramic composites. Thostenson, who also holds a master's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Delaware, performed his master's and Ph.D. research at the University of Delaware's Center for Composite Materials. Dr. Thostenson also has a Bachelors' degree in Composite Materials Engineering (Summa Cum Laude) from Winona State University.

Thostenson received a Young Investigator Program (YIP) Award from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. He also was the recipient of the Elsevier Young Composites Researcher Award from the American Society for Composites recognizing researchers who early in their career have made a significant impact on the science and technology of composite materials through a sustained research effort. He was also the recipient of the inaugural Hayashi International Memorial Award from the Japan Society for Composite Materials, recognizing outstanding young international researchers in the field of composites. Thostenson also received the Allan P. Colburn Prize for outstanding dissertation in the engineering and mathematical sciences (University of Delaware Office of Graduate Studies), the Roy L. McCullough Scholars Award (Center for Composite Materials) for exceptional contributions to the literature on composite materials, and the Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering (SAMPE) Outstanding Graduate Student Award.

Education

Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Science	(2004)
University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware
Dissertation:  Carbon Nanotube-Reinforced Composites: Processing, Characterization and Modeling

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering	(1999)
University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware
Thesis:  Microwave-Accelerated Curing of Thick Composite Laminates: Experiment and Simulation

Bachelor of Science in Composite Materials Engineering	(1995)
Winona State University, Winona, Minnesota
Summa Cum Laude

Professional Experience

2009 - Present	Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering Affiliated Faculty, Department of Materials Science and Engineering University of Delaware
2006 - 2009	Research Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Delaware
2005	Associate Scientist, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Delaware
2004	Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Delaware
1995-2003	Research Assistant, Departments of Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering and Center for Composite Materials, University of Delaware
1995, 1993	Laboratory Assistant, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
1994-95	Teaching Assistant, Department of Composite Materials Engineering, Winona State University

Honors and Awards

2009-12	Young Investigator Program (YIP) Award, Air Force Office of Scientific Research
2007	Elsevier Young Composites Researcher Award, American Society for Composites
2004	Hayashi Memorial International Award, Japan Society for Composite Materials
2004	Alan P. Colburn Prize for Best Dissertation in the Mathematical and Engineering Sciences, University of Delaware
2004	R.L McCullough Scholar's Award, Center for Composite Materials
2002	Outstanding Graduate Student Award - 1st Place Ph.D. Student Symposium, Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering (SAMPE)
2000-01	University of Delaware Competitive Fellowship
1999	Directors’ Award, Center for Composite Materials
1998	Hoechst Celanese Excellence in Engineering Award
1997	C. E. Birchenall Award for Best Student Presentation, Brandywine Valley Chapter of ASM International
1995-98	ARO/URI Fellowship
1994	Society of Plastics Engineers Scholarship

Journal Publications

S. M. Friedrich, A. S. Wu, E. T. Thostenson and T-W. Chou "Damage mode characterization of mechanically fastened composite joints using carbon nanotube networks," Composites Part A, 42(12): 2003-2009 (2011).

L. M. Gao, T-W. Chou, E. T. Thostenson, Z. G. Zhang and M. Coulaud "In situ sensing of impact damage in epoxy/glass fiber composites using percolating carbon nanotube networks," Carbon, 49(10): 3382-3385 (2011).

A. S. Lim, Z. R. Melrose, E. T. Thostenson and T-W. Chou, "Damage sensing of adhesively-bonded hybrid composite/steel joints using carbon nanotubes," Composites Science and Technology, 71(9): 1183-1189 (2011).

S-B. Lee, O. Choi, W. Lee, J. W. Yi, B. S. Kim, J. H. Byun, M. K. Yoon, H. Fong, E. T. Thostenson, T-W. Chou "Processing and characterization of multi-scale hybrid composites reinforced with nanoscale carbon reinforcements and carbon fibers," Composites Part A, 42(4): 337-344 (2011).

A. S. Lim, Q. An, T-W. Chou and E. T. Thostenson, "Mechanical and electrical response of carbon nanotube-based fabric composites to Hopkinson bar loading," Composites Science and Technology, 71(5): 616-621 (2011).

W. Lee, S-B. Lee, J-W. Yi, M-K Um, J-H. Byun, E. T. Thostenson and T-W. Chou, "Formicary-like carbon nanotube/copper hybrid nanostructures for carbon fiber-reinforced composites by electrophoretic deposition," Journal of Materials Science, 46(7): 2359-2364 (2011).

A. Gawandi, E. T. Thostenson and J. W. Gillespie, "Tow pullout behavior of polymer-coated Kevlar fabric," Journal of Materials Science, 46(1): 77-89 (2011).

K. J. Kim, W. R. Yu, J. S. Lee, L. M. Gao, E. T. Thostenson, T-W. Chou and J. H. Byun, "Damage characterization of 3D braided composites using carbon nanotube-based in situ sensing," Composites Part A, 41(10): 1531-1537 (2010).

L. M. Gao, T-W. Chou, E. T. Thostenson and Z. G. Zhang, "A comparative study of damage sensing in fiber composites using uniformly and non-uniformly dispersed carbon nanotubes," Carbon, 48(13): 3788-3794 (2010).

L. M. Gao, E. T. Thostenson, Z. G. Zhang, J-H. Byun and T-W. Chou, "Damage Monitoring in Fiber-Reinforced Composites under Fatigue Loading Using Carbon Nanotube Networks," Philosophical Magazine, 90(31-32): 4085-4099 (2010).

W. B. Lu, T-W. Chou and E. T. Thostenson, "A three-dimensional model of electrical percolation thresholds in carbon nanotube-based composites," Applied Physics Letters, 96(22): 223106 (2010).

L. M. Gao, T-W. Chou, E. T. Thostenson, A. Godara, Z. G. Zhang and L Mezzo, "Highly conductive polymer composites based on controlled agglomeration of carbon nanotubes," Carbon, 48(9): 2649-2651 (2010).

T-W. Chou, L. M. Gao, E. T. Thostenson, Z. G. Zhang and J-H. Byun, "An Assessment of the Science and Technology of Carbon Nanotube Fibers and Composites," Composites Science and Technology, 70(1): 1-19 (2010).

E. T. Thostenson, J. J. Gangloff Jr., C. Y. Li and J-H. Byun "Electrical Anisotropy in Multi-Scale Nanotube/Fiber Composites," Applied Physics Letters, 97(5): 073111 (2009).

K. Okubo, T. Fuji and E. T. Thostenson, "Multi-Scale Hybrid Biocomposite: Processing and Mechanical Characterization of Bamboo Fiber Reinforced PLA with Microfibrillated Cellulose," Composites - Part A, 40(4): 469-475 (2009).

L. M. Gao, E. T. Thostenson Z. G. Zhang and T-W. Chou, "Coupled Carbon Nanotube Network and Acoustic Emission Monitoring for Sensing of Damage Development in Composites," Carbon, 47(5): 1381-1388 (2009).

E. T. Thostenson S. Ziaee and T-W. Chou, "Processing and Electrical Properties of Carbon Nanotube / Vinyl Ester Nanocomposites," Composites Science and Technology, 69(6): 801-804 (2009).

L. M. Gao, E. T. Thostenson, Z. G. Zhang and T-W. Chou, "Sensing of Damage Mechanisms in Fiber-Reinforced Composites under Cyclic Loading Using Carbon Nanotubes," Advanced Functional Materials, 19(1): 123-130 (2009).

E. T. Thostenson and T-W. Chou, "Carbon Nanotube-Based Health Monitoring of Mechanically Fastened Composite Joints," Composites Science and Technology, 68(12) 2557-2561 (2008).

E. T. Thostenson and T-W. Chou, "Real-Time in situ Sensing of Damage Evolution in Advanced Fiber Composites using Carbon Nanotube Networks," Nanotechnology, 19(21): 215713 (2008).

C. Y. Li, E. T. Thostenson and T-W. Chou, "Sensors and Actuators Based on Carbon Nanotubes and their Composites: A Review," Composites Science and Technology, 68(6): 1227-1249 (2008).

C. Y. Li, E. T. Thostenson and T-W. Chou, "Effect of Nanotube Waviness on the Electrical Conductivity of Carbon Nanotube-Based Composites," Composites Science and Technology, 68(6): 1445-1452 (2008).

E. Bekyarova, E. T. Thostenson, A. Yu, M. E. Itkis, D. Fakhrutdinov, T-W. Chou, R. C. Haddon, "Functionalized Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes for Carbon Fiber-Epoxy Composites," Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 111(48): 17865-17871 (2007).

C. Y. Li, E. T. Thostenson and T-W. Chou, "Dominant Role of Tunneling Resistance in the Electrical Conductivity of Carbon Nanotube-Based Composites," Applied Physics Letters, 91(22): Article No. 223114 (2007).

E. Bekyarova, E. T. Thostenson, A. Yu, H. Kim, J. Gao, J. Tang, H. T. Hahn, T-W. Chou, M. E. Itkis, R. C. Haddon, "Multiscale Carbon Nanotube-Carbon Fiber Reinforcement for Advanced Epoxy Composites," Langmuir, 23(7): 3970-3974 (2007).

E. T. Thostenson and T-W. Chou, "Carbon Nanotube Networks: Sensing of Distributed Strain and Damage for Life Prediction and Self-Healing," Advanced Materials, 18(22): 2837-2841 (2006).

E. T. Thostenson and T-W. Chou, "Processing-Structure-Multi-Functional Property Relationship in Carbon Nanotube/Epoxy Composites," Carbon, 44(14): 3022-3029 (2006).

E. T. Thostenson P. G. Karandikar and T-W. Chou, "Fabrication and Characterization of Reaction Bonded Silicon Carbide / Carbon Nanotube Composites," Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, 38(21): 3962-3965 (2005).

E. T. Thostenson, C. Y. Li and T-W. Chou, “Nanocomposites in Context,” Composites Science and Technology, 65(3-4): 491-516 (2005).

E. T. Thostenson and T-W. Chou, “Nanotube Buckling in Aligned Multi-Wall Carbon Nanotube-Reinforced Composites,” Carbon, 42(14): 3015-3018 (2004).

E. T. Thostenson and T-W. Chou, “On the Elastic Properties of Carbon Nanotube-Based Composites: Modeling and Characterization,” Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, 36(5): 573-582 (2003).

E. T. Thostenson and T-W. Chou, “Aligned Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube-Reinforced Composites: Processing and Mechanical Characterization,” Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, 35(16): L77-L80 (2002).

E. T. Thostenson, W. Z. Li, D. Z. Wang, Z. F. Ren and T-W. Chou, “Carbon Nanotube/Carbon Fiber Hybrid Multiscale Composites,” Journal of Applied Physics, 91(9): 6034-6037 (2002).

E. T. Thostenson, Z. F. Ren and T-W. Chou, “Advances in the Science and Technology of Carbon Nanotubes and their Composites: A Review,” Composites Science and Technology, 61(13): 1899-1912 (2001).

E. T. Thostenson and T-W. Chou, “Microwave and Conventional Curing of Thick-Section Thermoset Composite Laminates: Experiment and Simulation,” Polymer Composites, 22(2): 197-212 (2001).

E. T. Thostenson and T-W. Chou, “Microwave Processing: Fundamentals and Applications,” Composites Part A, 30(9): 1055-1071 (1999).

J. Li, E. T. Thostenson, T-W. Chou and L. Riester,  “An Investigation of Thin-Film Coating/Substrate Systems by Nanoindentation,” Journal of Engineering Materials and Technology, 120(2): 154-162 (1998).

R. W. Rydin, E. T. Thostenson and H-Y. Ma, “An Assessment of the Impact Response of Knit-Knit and Knit-Stitch Composites," Science and Engineering of Composite Materials, 7(3): 269-277 (1998).

Book Chapters

C. Y. Li, E. T. Thostenson and T-W. Chou, "Carbon Nanotube-Based Composites and Damage Sensing,” Multifunctional Polymer Nanocomposites, CRC Press, Eds: J. Leng, A. Kin-Tak Lau (2011).

D. Heider, R. C. Don, E. T. Thostenson, K. Tackitt, J. H. Belk and T. Munns, “Cure Monitoring and Control,” ASM Handbook Volume 21 Composites, ASM International, Materials Park, OH (2001).

Professor Thostenson leads NSF Nanoscale Undergraduate Education (NUE) program

Nanomaterials are tiny but mighty, offering the potential for use in a vast array of applications from fuel cells to drug delivery systems. Their size—the diameter of a nano-fiber is approximately one-thousandth that of a human hair—underlies both their power and the challenge of harnessing that power.

“Strange things happen when materials get that small,” says Erik Thostenson, a mechanical engineering professor at the University of Delaware. “Exploiting the unique properties of nanomaterials requires a highly integrated approach involving scientists and engineers from diverse fields. For engineers to be well versed in nanotechnology, it’s crucial to introduce the topic early.” (read more)

• Multifunctional Composites Laboratory
  
• Center for Composite Materials (CCM)
• Association for Materials and Engineering (AME)
  
• Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering (SAMPE-UD)
• Multifunctional Composites Lab Intranet