Wiesław Binienda
Wiesław Kazimierz Binienda (born 20 August 1956 in Koło, Poland) is a Polish-American scientist, PhD, and professor and chairman of the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Akron. Binienda's research includes impact simulation, fracture and damage of advanced composite materials, explicit and implicit finite element mechanics, smart materials, structural design and optimization, characterization and constitutive equation development for ceramic matrix, metal matrix and polymer matrix composites. He received the 2002 College of Engineering Outstanding Researcher Award in recognition of his research accomplishments. He has authored or co-authored 2 books, 46 journal papers and  73 conference publications and 70 presentations. Dr. Binienda was the lead scientist who questioned and then investigated the 2010 Polish Air Force Tu-154 crash. His findings were in direct contradiction to the reports published by the official Russian and Polish air crash investigation bodies. Shortly after his findings were published, it was revealed that his simulation results were just a reprint of a paper by one of his students. After government change in 2015, the new Polish government - which previously openly promoted conspiracy theories regarding the crash - has opened a new investigation, inviting and hiring Binienda , despite him having no  prior experience with air crash investigations. Binienda and his wife Maria Szonert-Binienda are also involved in research and education about war crimes committed by Soviet Army against Polish soldiers in Katyn massacre. Biography. Binienda received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Drexel University in 1987, his M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Drexel University in 1985, and his M.S. in Motor Vehicles and Heavy Duty Machines from Warsaw Technical University in 1980. Binienda is also involved in research projects with NASA. Publications. NASA Publications W.K. Binienda, S.M. Arnold and H.Q Tan, "Calculation of Stress Intensity Factors in an Isotropic Multi -C racked Plate: Part I – Theoretical Development," NASA TM 1 05766, 1992. Other Publications