Research Professor Emeritus of Materials Science

EDUCATION

- 1959, BS Physics Randolph-Macon College

- 1968, MS Materials Science & Engineering Univesity of Virginia

- 1971, PhD Materials Science & Engineering University of Virginia

Dr. Wawner served on the research faculty of the MS&E department, University of Virginia since receiving his degree from that institution in 1971. Prior to this, his first job upon completion of his BS from RMC was in the Basic Research Group, Engineer Research & Development Lab at Fort Belvior, VA. The research there was studing the decomposition of metal azides (primary explosives). In 1961 he went to work for Texaco Experiment Inc. in Richmond, VA until 1966 when he entered graduate school. At Texaco he was instrumental in the development of the continuous boron fiber, which was at that time, the primary high strength, high modulus reinforcement for structural composites. Composites at that time were of great interest in the aero-space industry.

Dr. Wawner worked with Textron Specialty Materials (formerly Avco) since 1969 as an active participant and consultant on programs to develop boron, silicon carbide, and titanium diboride fibers and various surface coatings for these materials. He conducted numerous research programs on continuous fiber reinforced and discontinuous reinforced composite systems. Much of this work involved processing-microstruce-mechanical property relationships, fracture, and thermo-mechanical property determination.

Dr. Wawner served as a consultant to eleven industrial companies and two government agencies. During his career he had over 150 publications/presentations including several book chapters related to composite materials. He served as advisor to 37 MS and PhD graduates.