Overview

Dr. Asmatulu joined the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Wichita State University (WSU) as an assistant professor in 2006 and became an associate professor in 2012 and full professor in 2017 in the same department. Prior to this position at WSU, he had postdoc and R&D experiences at Virginia Tech, University of Connecticut, and Yale University. He is currently working with six PhD, nine MS and three BS students in the same department. He has graduated over 150 MS and PhD students, received over $6.3M internal and external grants and published more than 500 technical articles with his students and collaborators in his field. To date, his scholarly activities have been cited more than 7,100 times (with h-index 45 and i10-index 149) according to the Google Scholar.

Information

Academic Interests and Expertise

Education

  • Ph.D., Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE), Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA, August 1997–March 2001
  • M.S., Department of Mining Engineering (MSE concentration), Istanbul Technical University, June 1992–June 1995
  • B.S., Department of Mining Engineering (MSE concentration), Istanbul Technical University, September 1988–June 1992
Areas of Research Interest

Dr. Asmatulu’s research interests include both theoretical and experimental understanding of nanoparticles for solar cells, fuel cells, and supercapacitors; laminated and sandwich composites for aircraft, defense and wind turbine manufacturing; functionalization and crosslinking of CNT wires; modeling and simulation of solid structures; highly durable nanocomposite thin films for lightning strike prevention, EMI shielding and fire retardancy; electrospun nanofibers for scaffolding, biosensors, structural health monitoring and water splitting; nanocomposite coatings against corrosion, moisture and UV degradation; nanomembranes for waste water filtration; and nanoemulsion and hydrogel-based targeted drug delivery systems.

List of Current Projects

  • “Investigating the Micro and Nanoscale Crack Formations of Moisture Saturated Thermoplastic Composites under Cryogenic Conditions,” funded by the NASA EPSCoR PDG, June 21, 2024.
  • “Highly Robust Advanced Coating Systems on Alloy Surfaces Against the Environmental Conditions,” funded by the TAI-USA Inc., August 21, 2023.
  • “Manufacturing and Characterization of Optically Transparent and Mechanically Robust Laminated Films for Aerospace Industry,” funded by the TAI-USA Inc., August 21, 2023.
  • “Investigating the Properties of High-Performing 3D Printed Alloys with Reduced Porosity for Structural Applications,” funded by the TAI-USA Inc., August 21, 2023.
  • “Highly Conductive and Durable Biosensors for Wearable Health Monitoring Systems,” funded by the John A. See Foundation, Wichita, KS, March 15, 2023.
  • “Improving Flame Retardancy of Fiber Reinforced Composites via Modified Fire-Resistant Resins and Metallic Surface Film Coatings – Phase II,” funded by the TAI-USA Inc., March 15, 2023.

Current Graduate Students

Md. Shafinur Murad, Abdulhammed Hamzat, Nikhil Paranjpe, Shawn Hughes, Purva Todmal, Fatih Altun, Eddie Harrison, Emanuel Andrade, Enes Makaraci, and Farzana Yeasmin.

Research Lab Information

The nanotechnology research and teaching laboratories were developed in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Wichita State University and have been actively used for various industry and academic projects. The Nanolab laboratory spaces (1500 ft2) are located in the Wallace Hall 125, and Beggs Hall 137, 139 and 144.  The equipment in this facility includes two electrospinning units, a layer-by-layer coating unit (dipping unit), autoclaves, centrifuges, asylum atomic force microscope (AFM), optical microscopes, corrosion testing units, UV photolithography, oxygen plasma cleaner, AC/DC power units, UV-Vis spectrometer, software-driven optical and fluorescence microscopes, zeta potential/nanosizer, fume hoods, spin coating apparatus, capacitance bridge, shakers, freezers, glove boxes, injection molding unit, pH meters, balances, photograph unit, environmental chamber, UV chamber, hot press, two furnace, oven, shakers and contact angle and surface tension measurement devices. In addition to these, the department has a well-equipped composite/nanocomposite lab that includes DSC, TGA, DMA, Raman Spectroscopy, FTIR, VARTM, composite curing oven, press, rheometer, viscosity meter, C-scan, SEM, three-mill rolling, cryogenic milling, mixers, etc. The equipment is extensively used in the funded projects above, graduate students’ projects, as well as other industry projects. 

Areas of Teaching Interest
  • ME 250 Materials Engineering
  • ME 335 Dynamics for Mechanical Engineers
  • ME 398 Thermodynamics I
  • ME 670 Introduction to Nanotechnology
  • ME 667 Mechanical Properties of Materials
  • ME 752 Failure Analysis Methods and Tools
  • ME 753 Advanced Materials for Energy Systems
  • ME 760 Fracture Mechanics
  • ME 844 Advanced Biomaterials
  • ME 865 Corrosion Science and Engineering
Publications

Selected Journal Articles

  • Duzcukoglu, H., Kaybal. H.B., and Asmatulu, R. “Enhancing the Coating Durability and Electrical Stability of Fiber Composites with SPEEK/PEDOT:PSS Permanent Coatings: A Novel Approach,” Polymer Degradation and Stability, Vol. 228, pp. 110908, 2024.
  • Murad, M.S., Asmatulu, E., Nuraje, A., Er, O., Gursoy, M., Bahceci, E., Bakir, M., and Asmatulu, R. “Improved Mechanical and Fire-Retardant Properties of Fiber-Reinforced Composites Manufactured via Modified Resins and Metallic Thin Films,” International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Vol. 133, pp. 4715-4730, 2024.
  • Gurung, D., Murad, M.S., Asmatulu, E., Gursoy, M., Bahceci, E., Bakir, M., and Asmatulu, R. “Enhancing the Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Sulfonated PEEK Fiber Composites with Reduced Smoke Density and Toxicity,” Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol. 141(35), pp. e55886, 2024.
  • Jurak, S., Subeshan, B., and Asmatulu, R. “Superhydrophobic-Based Corrosion Mitigation Systems and Their Effectiveness on Dissimilar and Similar Friction Stir Spot-Weld Joint Aerospace Alloys,” Next Materials, Vol. 5, pp. 100269, 2024.
  • Patlolla, V.R., Uddin, M.D., and Asmatulu, R. “Effects of Porosity and Edge Reinforcements on Interlaminar Tensile Strength of Curved-Beam Carbon Fiber Composites,” Journal of Composites Materials), Vol. 58, 2024 (https://doi.org/10.1177/0021998324126405).
  • Parten, C., Subeshan, B., and Asmatulu, R. “Highly Conductive and Durable Nanocomposite Hard Coatings of Thermoplastic Carbon Fiber Composites against Lightning Strikes,” Discover Nano, Vol. 19, 2024 (1186/s11671-024-04041-5).
  • Murali, T.K.S., Murad, M.S., Bakir, M., and Asmatulu, R. “PAN-Based Fiber Reinforced Carbon-Carbon Composites for Improved Fire Retardancy and Thermal and Electrical Conductivities for Harsh Environments,” Journal of Composite Materials, Vol. 58, 2024 (https://doi.org/10.1177/002199832412466).
Grants

Grants

  • “Investigating the Micro and Nanoscale Crack Formations of Moisture Saturated Thermoplastic Composites under Cryogenic Conditions,” funded by the NASA EPSCoR PDG, June 21, 2024.
  • “Highly Robust Advanced Coating Systems on Alloy Surfaces Against the Environmental Conditions,” funded by the TAI-USA Inc., August 21, 2023.
  • “Manufacturing and Characterization of Optically Transparent and Mechanically Robust Laminated Films for Aerospace Industry,” funded by the TAI-USA Inc., August 21, 2023.
  • “Investigating the Properties of High-Performing 3D Printed Alloys with Reduced Porosity for Structural Applications,” funded by the TAI-USA Inc., August 21, 2023.
  • “Highly Conductive and Durable Biosensors for Wearable Health Monitoring Systems,” funded by the John A. See Foundation, Wichita, KS, March 15, 2023.
  • “Improving Flame Retardancy of Fiber Reinforced Composites via Modified Fire-Resistant Resins and Metallic Surface Film Coatings – Phase II,” funded by the TAI-USA Inc., March 15, 2023.
Other Interests

Research Interests

Dr. Asmatulu’s research interests include both theoretical and experimental understanding of nanoparticles for solar cells, fuel cells, supercapacitors, and biodiesel production; laminated and sandwich composites for aircraft and wind turbine manufacturing; functionalization and crosslinking of CNT wires; modeling and simulation of solid structures; highly durable nanocomposite thin films for lightning strike prevention, EMI shielding and fire retardancy; electrospun nanofibers for scaffolding, biosensors, structural health monitoring and water splitting; nanocomposite coatings against corrosion, moisture and UV degradation; nanomembranes for waste water filtration; and nanoemulsion and hydrogel-based targeted drug delivery systems.