Dr. Joseph J. Rencis, P.E.

Professor, Department Head, and Twenty-first Century Leadership Chair in Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering

Office: MEEG 204
Phone: (479) 575-4153
Fax: (479) 575-6982
E-mail: jjrencis@uark.edu
WWW: http://comp.uark.edu/~jjrencis/

Education

• A.A.S., Architectural and Building Construction Engineering Technology, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Milwaukee, WI, 1980
• B.S., Architectural and Building Construction Engineering Technology, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Milwaukee, WI, 1980
• M.S., Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, Northwestern University, Evaston, IL, 1982
• Ph.D., Engineering Mechanics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 1985

Job Responsibilities

• Leadership
• Management
• Research
• Teaching
• Service

Professional Licensure

Registered Professional Engineer in State of Massachusetts

Teaching and Research

• Boundary Element Method
• Finite Element Method
• Atomistic Modeling
• Engineering Education  

Biographical Information

Dr. Joseph J. Rencis received A.A.S. (1978) and B.S. (1980) degrees from Milwaukee School of Engineering in Architectural and Building Construction Engineering Technology, M.S. (1982) from Northwestern University in Civil Engineering, and Ph.D. (1985) from Case Western Reserve University in Civil Engineering.  From 1985 to 2004 he was an Assistant, Associate, and Full Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute and from 1995 to 2004 the Director of Engineering Mechanics.  Dr. Rencis has been a registered professional engineer in Massachusetts since 1988.  Since 2004 he has been a tenured Professor and Department Head of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Arkansas.  He has held the Twenty-first Century Leadership Chair in Engineering ($1.5M endowment) since 2007. 

Dr. Rencis’ primary research areas include boundary elements, finite elements, atomistic modeling, and engineering education.  His research is supported by National Science Foundation and industry.  Dr. Rencis has published over thirty refereed journal articles and over ninety conference publications.  He is an associate editor of the International Series on Advances in Boundary Elements.  Dr. Rencis also serves on the editorial board of Engineering Analysis with Boundary Elements and The Open Mechanics Journal.  He is a fellow of the Wessex Institute of Great Britain since 2000 and fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineering (ASME) since 2001.  Dr. Rencis was recognized as the 2007-08 Cambridge Professional of the Year Representing Mechanical Engineering.  He is currently completing an introductory mechanics of materials textbook as the co-author.  Dr. Rencis received the 2002 American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) New England Section Outstanding Teaching Award.    

Dr. Rencis is currently Chair of the ASME Mechanical Engineering Department Heads Committee and was Vice Chair from 2006-08.  In ASME he also serves on the Center for Education Board of Directors (2006-10).  He is currently Program Chair of the ASEE Mechanical Engineering Division and past Chair of the ASEE Mechanics Division in 1999-2000.  Since 2002, he has been a program evaluator for the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) and since 2006 a member of the National Collaborative for Engineering Graduate Education Reform.  Dr. Rencis recently conducted reviews of new M.S. and Ph.D. engineering programs.  He currently serves on the Academic Advisory Board of the College of Engineering at United Arab Emirates University and the Springdale High School Engineering/Architecture Academy.  Dr. Rencis has received the 2004 ASEE New England Section Outstanding Leader Award, 2006 ASEE Mechanics Division James L. Meriam Service Award, and 2006 ASEE Midwest Section Outstanding Service in Program Sponsorship.  He is an inaugural fellow of the 2008-09 Southeastern Conference Academic Consortium Leadership Development Program.  Rencis is listed in several Who’s Who publications.

Selected Publications

1. Tedalkar, S., Zhang, S., Rencis, J.J. and Hsia, K.J., "Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Ion-Irradiation Induced Deflections of 2D Graphene Films," International Journal of Solids and Structures, 45, 13, 3908-3917, June 2008.
2. Pan, C.H.T., Kim, T.H. and Rencis, J.J., "Rolling Stream Trials-An Alternative Cavitation Analysis," American Society of Mechanical Engineering Journal of Tribology, 130, April 2008.
3. Rencis, J.J., Jolley, W.O. and Grandin, H.T., "Teaching Fundamentals of Finite Element Theory and Applications Using Sophomore Level Mechanics of Materials," The International Journal of Mechanical Engineering Education, 32, 2, 114-137, April 2007.
4. Terdalkar, S.. and Rencis, J.J., "Graphically Driven Interactive Finite Element Stress Reanalysis for Machine Elements in the Early Design Stage," Finite Element in Analysis and Design, 42, 884-899, 2006.
5. Amaral, N., Rencis, J.J. and Rong, Y., "Finite Element Analysis and Optimization in Fixture Design," International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 25, 409-419, 2005.
6. Benz, U. and Rencis, J.J., "Coupling Two-dimensional and Axisymmetric Boundary Element Zones for Transient Heat Transfer Applications," Engineering Analysis with Boundary Elements, 26, 5, 455-467, 2002.
7. Benz, U. and Rencis, J.J., "Simplified Multidimensional Zone Boundary Element Formulation for Transient Heat Transfer Applications," Electronic Journal of Boundary Elements, Vol. BETEQ 2001, No. 1, pp. 77-84, 2002, http://tabula.rutgers.edu/EJBE/proceedings/2001/.
8. Fratantonio, M. and Rencis, J.J., "Exact Boundary Element Integrations for Two-Dimensional Laplace Equation," Engineering Analysis with Boundary Elements, 24, 4, 325-342, 2000.
9. Pisani, S.R. and Rencis, J.J., "Investigating CURVIC Coupling Behavior by Utilizing Two- and Three-Dimensional Boundary and Finite Element Methods," Engineering Analysis with Boundary Elements, 24, 3, 271-275, 2000.
10. Clayton, J.D. and Rencis, J.J., "Investigation of Singular and Nearly Singular Integrands in Axisymmetric Elasticity Finite Element Formulations," Short Communication, Advances in Engineering Software and Workstations, 31, 2, 137-141, February 2000.
11. Rencis, J.J., Kwok, P., Flory, E. and Alam, J., "Learning Modules for Finite Element Method On The World-Wide Web," ASEE Computers in Education Journal, Vol. IX, No. 4, 22-28, October-December, 1999.
12. Rencis, J.J. and Huang, Q., "Fundamental Functions for a Two-Dimensional Microelastic Body," Research Note, Engineering Analysis in Boundary Elements, 23, 9, 787-790, October 1999.
13. Ali, I.A. and Rencis, J.J., "A New Multidimensional Zone BEM Formulation for Heat Transfer Analysis," Engineering Analysis with Boundary Elements, 22, 103-110, 1998.
14. Alam, J. and Rencis, J.J., "Use of Internet in Information Content Creation and Delivery for Promoting Active Cooperative Learning," ASEE Computers in Education Journal, Vol. VIII, No. 1, January-March, 1998.
15. Rencis, J.J. and Mann, K., "The Effects of Essential Boundary Conditions on the Convergence of Iterative Equation Solvers in BEM," The International Journal of Boundary Elements Methods Communications, 8, 1, 11-13, 1997.
16. Cabell, B.Q., Rencis, J.J., Alam, J. and Grandin, H.T., "Using Java to Develop Interactive Learning Material for the World-Wide Web," The International Journal of Engineering Education, Vol. 13, No. 6, 1997.
17. Rencis, J.J. and Grandin, H.T., "Design Experiences in Stress Analysis Using TK Solver," ASEE Computers in Education Journal, Vol. VI, No. 3, July-September 1996.
18. Urekew, T.J. and Rencis, J., "An Iterative Solution Strategy for Boundary Element Equations from Mixed Boundary Value Problems," Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, 118, 13-28, 1994.
19. Antkowiak, J.H. and Rencis, J.J., "Geometric Nonlinearities in the Design of Force Transducers," Advances to Engineering Software and Workstations, 21, 11-16, 1994.
20. Pothier, A. and Rencis, J.J., "Three-Dimensional Finite Element Formulation for Microelastic Solids," Computers and Structures, 51, 1, 1-21, 1994.
21. Urekew, T.J. and Rencis, J.J., "The Importance of Diagonal Dominance in Iterative Equation Solving for Boundary Element Systems of Equations," International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, 36, 3509-3527, 1993.
22. Rencis, J.J. and Huang, Q., "Boundary Element Formulation for Generalized Plane Strain," Engineering Analysis with Boundary Elements, 9, 263-271, 1992.
23. Rencis, J.J. and Huang, Q., "Boundary Element Formulation for Constant Curvature Generalized Plane Strain Problem," MECHANICS: Research Communications, 19, 2, 101-116, March-April 1992.
24. Rencis, J.J., Hopkins, D.A. and Chamis, C.C., "Local and Global Accuracy Estimates for Boundary Element Method," Finite Elements in Analysis and Design, 9, 229-245, 1991.
25. Rencis, J.J., Urekew, T.J., Jong, K-Y., Kirk, R. and Federico, P., "A Posteriori Error Estimates for Finite Element and Boundary Element Methods," Computers and Structures, 37, 1, 103-117, 1990.
26. Rencis, J.J., Jong, K-Y. and Saigal, S., "A Dynamic Viscoelastic Beam Model using the Finite Element Method," ASCE Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 3, 1, 19-29, 1990.
27. Rencis, J.J. and Jong, K-Y., "A Self-Adaptive h-Refinement Technique for the Boundary Element Method," Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, 73, 295-316, 1989.
28. Goksel, B., Rencis, J.J. and Noori, M.N., "Stress Analyses of a Butterfly Valve Assembly," ASME Journal of Pressure Vessels and Technology, 111, 2, 197-202, 1989.
29. Rencis, J.J. and Jong, K-Y., "An Error Estimator for Boundary Element Computations," ASCE Journal of Engineering Mechanics, 115, 9, 1993-2010, 1989.
30. Rencis, J.J. and Mullen, R.L., "Self-Adaptive Mesh Refinement for Boundary Element Solutions of Laplace Equation," Computational Mechanics, 3, 309-319, 1988.
31. Mullen, R.L. and Rencis, J.J., "Iterative Methods for Solving Boundary Element Equations," Computers and Structures, 25, 5, 713- 723, 1987.
32. Rencis, J.J. and Mullen, R.L., "Solution of Elasticity Problems by a Self-Adaptive Mesh Refinement Technique for Boundary Element Computation," International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, 23, 1509-1527, 1986.