His first projects consisted of crystal structure determinations of new minerals such as the silicates wenkite (named after his father, Swiss geologist Eduard Wenk), howieite.
Collaboration with Fred Kocks at Los Alamos National Lab produced research projects that transformed polycrystal plasticity models to low symmetry materials and polyphase aggregates, including recrystallization.
[6][7] Further studies using diamond anvil cells to reproduce pressures, stresses and temperatures representative of the deep Earth,[8] in combination with the above-stated plasticity models, advanced the understanding of rock deformation and anisotropy in the mantle and core as observed by seismologists.
[16] Wenk co-authored works on advanced mineralogy applied to broader topics such as the texture of bones,[17] identifying Hiroshima atomic bomb debris,[18] and the properties of Roman concrete.
[19] His research has been reported in over 450 journal publications and 4 books[20][21] Wenk's research achievements were recognized by awards, including Humboldt Fellowship,[22] Fulbright Fellowship,[23] Berndt Mathias Scholarship (Los Alamos National Lab),[24] Wason Medal of the American Concrete Institute,[25] and the Gottlob Werner Medal of the Deutsche Mineralogische Gesellschaft.