Kendrick Mensink

kendrick.mensink@gmail.com

DEGREE TYPE: PhD
PROGRAM: Mechanical Engineering
DEGREE STATUS: Graduated

RESEARCH FOCUS:

LASER ENERGY INTERACTION WITH NOVEL FINE-GRAIN MATERIALS including 1) High repetition rate femtosecond pulsed laser-induced processing: 1a) refractive index modification in transparent nanocrystalline zirconia, 1b) material heat accumulation and ablation thresholds in metals, semiconductors, dielectrics, 1c) metal-oxide layer formation in controlled environments; 2) Continuous-wave laser sintering of fine milled and atomized metallic particles for high-throughput material development for additive manufacturing; 3) texturing, coloring, LIPSS, peening, hydrophobocity of metal surfaces.]

DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH:

Kendrick researches the effect of laser irradiation on metal and ceramic structures and properties. His experience includes 1) low fluence, high repetition rate femtosecond pulse irradiation, which can modify optical properties of Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia with non-linear absorption for applications in integrated optical devices; 2) high energy nanosecond pulses irradiation, which can create nanoscale surface structures (LIPSS) changing the hydrophobicity and color of metals like magnesium and titanium; 3) custom milling and continuous wave laser heating of tailored metallic nanocrystalline alloyed powders for enhanced laser densification and coalesced properties with the goal of high throughput material development for additive manufacturing (metal 3D printing).

CURRENT GROUPS:

Visiting Professor at Walla Walla University, Materials Advantage

OTHER GROUPS/ORGS/CLUBS:

Mathaudhu Research Group, Aguilar Research Group (C-SAMBA), AIST, ASME, SPIE

AWARDS:

UCR Chancellor’s Distinguished Fellowship (3 yrs GSR/TA)
UCR Graduate Student Mentorship Program (1st yr mentee)
NSF GRFP Honorable Mention
UC MEXUS-CICESE Short-term Graduate Research and Training Fellowship (3 mth GSR/travel)
UCR Mechanical Engineering Teaching Assitantships (6 quarters)
UCR Mechanical Engineering GAANN Fellowship (1 yr GSR/TA)

PRESENTATION TITLES:

(T for talk, P for Poster)

Presentations (*denotes presenter)

(Invited) Mensink, K.*, Aguilar, G., Mathaudhu, S., Laser material processing: from a brain window to additive manufacturing. Edward F. Cross School of Engineering Colloquium, Walla Walla University, College Place, WA, April 25, 2019

Mensink, K.*, Madrigal-Camacho, M., Aguilar, G., Mathaudhu, S., Flow and laser sintering of steel powders for high throughput alloy testing. AIST Annual Southern California chapter student presentation meeting, California Steel Cafe, Fontana, CA, April 18, 2019

Mensink, K.*, Aguilar, G., Mathaudhu, S. Developing alloys tailored for metal additive manufacturing. PowderMet 2018 International Conference on Powder Metallurgy & Particulate Materials, Additive Manufacturing with Powder Metallurgy Conference, San Antonio, TX, June 17-20, 2018

Mensink, K.*, Aguilar, G., Mathaudhu, S. Thermal Stability of Laser-Sintered Nano-Structured Powder. TMS 2018 Annual Meeting and Exhibition. Phoenix, AZ, March 11-15, 2018

(Invited) Mensink, K., Aguilar, G., Mathaudhu, S.* High Throughput Testing and Characterization of Novel Additive Manufacturing Processes and Properties. TMS 2018 Annual Meeting and Exhibition. Phoenix, AZ, March 11-15, 2018

Mensink, K.*, Roach, C., Aguilar, G., Mathaudhu, S. Advanced Laser Surface Processing of Thermally-Stable Nanocrystalline Alloys. The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society Annual Meeting and Exhibition, San Diego, CA, March 1, 2017

Mensink, K.*, Halaney, D., Redenius, J., Martinez-Torres, P., Penilla, E., Garay, J., Camacho-Lopez, S., Mathaudhu, S., Aguilar, G. Characterization of waveguide structures produced by femtosecond pulse laser in transparent polycrystalline ceramics. The International Society for Optics and Photonics Photonics West, San Francisco, CA, January 31, 2017

Mensink, K.*, Roach, C., Aguilar, G., Mathaudhu, S. Advanced Laser Surface Processing of Lightweight Alloys. Materials Science & Technology, Salt Lake City, UT, October 26, 2016

Mensink, K.*, Aguilar, G., Mathaudhu, S. Laser Peening case study: thermally stable nanocrystalline lightweight alloy. Mechanical Engineering Graduate Student Association 7th Annual Research Symposium, Riverside, CA, May 13, 2016

Mensink, K.*, Aguilar, G., Mathaudhu, S., Laser Peening case study: thermally stable nanocrystalline lightweight alloy. Mechanical Engineering Department Colloquium, Riverside, CA, February 19, 2016

Mensink, K.*, Redenius, J., Penilla, E., Aguilar, G., Femtosecond Ablation Studies. Mechanical Engineering Department Seminar, Riverside, CA, February 27, 2015

Mensink, K.*, Redenius, J., Martinez-Torres, P., Penilla, E., Aguilar, G., Ablation threshold and surface roughness in femtosecond laser processing of steels, silicon carbide and tungsten carbide. International Materials Research Congress, Cancún, Mexico, Aug 17-21, 2014

Mensink, K.*, Aguilar, G., Laser Processing and Applications. Mechanical Engineering Graduate Student Association 5th Annual Research Symposium, Riverside, CA, May 29, 2014

Mensink, K.*, Schreven, J., Riley, D., Ma, Q., Rinehart, D., Leslie, T., Automatic adjusting semi-truck side extenders. WWU senior design final presentation, Daimler Trucks North America, Portland, OR, June 27, 2012

Posters

Wilborn, A.*, Mensink, K., Mathaudhu, S. Temperature Control Measures for Laser Sintering of Metal Powder. Northeast Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation, November 2, 2018, Boston, MA.

Wilborn, A.*, Mensink, K., Mathaudhu, S. Temperature Control Measures for Laser Sintering of Metal Powder. Materials Connection Research Experience for Undergraduate Students, National Science Foundation, August 22, 2018, Riverside, CA.

Nakahara, K.*, Fonseca, P., Mensink, K., Mathaudhu, S. Enhancing Hardness in Ti-6Al-4V and 17Cr-4Ni Precipitation-Hardened Steel via High Energy Ball Milling Nanostructuring. Mentoring Summer Research Internship Program, August 13, 2018, Riverside, CA.

Mensink, K.*, Aguilar, G., Mathaudhu, S. Developing alloys tailored for metal additive manufacturing. Mechanical Engineering Graduate Student Association 9th Annual Research Symposium, May 25, 2018; Riverside, CA.

Mensink, K.*, Schreven, J., Riley, D., Ma, Q., Rinehart, D., Leslie, T., Automatic adjusting semi-truck side extenders. WWU senior design final presentation, College Place, WA, June 27, 2012

CONFERENCES ATTENDED: (A)/Presented at (T for talk, P for poster)

TMS 2018 (T)
PowderMET 2018 (T/P)
TMS 2017 (T)
SPIE 2017 (T)
MS&T 2016 (T)
IMRC 2014 (T)

PAPERS:

(P for published, I for in review, D for draft)

Mensink, K., Roach, C., Madrigal, M., G. Aguilar, Mathaudhu, S., expected 2019. Flow and sintering of milled metallic powder for additive manufacturing alloy development. (in preparation, targeted for publication in J. Mater. Process. Technol.)
Contributions: Powder characterization and processing, laser processing, post process characterization, literature review, experimental plan, manuscript preparation

Mensink, K., Penilla, E.H., Martínez-Torres, P., Cuando, N., Mathaudhu, S., Aguilar, G., 2018. High repetition rate femtosecond laser heat accumulation and ablation thresholds in cobalt-binder and binderless tungsten carbides. J. Mater. Process. Technol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmatprotec.2018.09.030
Contributions: Sample preparation, mechanical characterization, laser processing, post process characterization, literature review, experimental plan, manuscript preparation

Cuando-Espitia, N., Redenius, J., Mensink, K., Camacho-López, M., Camacho-López, S., Aguilar, G., 2018. Influence of oxygen pressure on the fs laser induced oxidation of molybdenum thin films. Opt. Mater. Express 8, 535–546. https://doi.org/10.1364/OME.8.000581
Contributions: Laser processing, post process analysis, manuscript preparation

Spoiler with adjustment dependent on trailer dimensions, GB1223133.8, issued June 5, 2013, with Jonathan Schreven, Don Riley, Qin Ma, Dawn Rinehart, and Thomas Leslie
Contributions: Concept generation, prototype modeling and build, development, testing, final report

REASONS FOR GRAD SCHOOL:

Better fit for me personally than entry-level engineering jobs and it makes it easier to transition into startups, industry, research positions and teaching.

UNDERGRAD SCHOOL:

Walla Walla University

Mechanical Engineering

UNDERGRAD RESEARCH:

Auto-adjusting spoiler for semi-truck trailer (Daimler Truck North America)

INTERNSHIPS:

Gratias Thermal Systems (2012), Daimler Trucks North America (2012), Gimbie Adventist Hospital (2010-2011)

WORK EXPERIENCE:

Gratias Thermal Systems (2012), Daimler Trucks North America (2012), Gimbie Adventist Hospital (2010-2011)

AWARDS:

Dean’s List of Distinguished Students (every quarter)
General Studies Honors Program Graduate, $8,000
Alumni Awards in Engineering and Honors Program, $1000 each

PRESENTATIONS/CONFERENCES ATTENDED:

ASME Old Guard Speech Competition
Senior Design Project to Daimler Trucks North America

REASONS FOR ENGINEERING:

I loved playing with legos and computers and figuring out how and why things work, and I was good at math.

CAREER ASPIRATIONS:

Solve a few “everyday” problems and a few “high tech” problems and then teach the next generation of engineers and have fun while doing it.