Mechanical Engineering

We promote the development of heat driven pumps which utilize water phase change, analysis of current situations and prediction of future situations with energy consumption, heat islands and global warming, facility mitigation using high efficiency heat engines and refrigeration based air conditioners, and utilization of solar thermal energy. We promote research regarding how to achieve low environmental impact and high efficiency energy systems required for a sustainable society.

The manufacturing and processing of raw chemicals, parts, food, agricultural products, and more, requires not only improvement in product quality but also efforts to save energy and reduce environmental impact. We are working on the development of methods and devices to optimize the manufacturing process by carefully using high temperature steam (superheated steam), as well as air in various conditions of temperature and humidity, while taking into account the thermal properties of materials.

We are analyzing heat and momentum during the transfer of high temperature fluids flowing inside ducts as well as researching efficient stirring methods to transfer heat to the duct walls without increasing the flow resistance. We also study the disintegration of the liquid films of various aqueous solutions of surfactants, and are developing methods to freely move droplets on walls by laser.

We are researching methods to evaluate and diagnose the state of machinery and infrastructure, as well as robot technologies that will improve social welfare. In regards to machine evaluation, we are developing measurement, signal processing and data processing methods. For infrastructure inspection, we are developing new image processing technique and bridge inspection helicopters.

Our research topics are the nondestructive evaluation of materials and structures, as well as vibration control. For example, we are studying monitoring methods for resin flow and curing by using ultrasonic waves for the efficient molding of high-quality CFRP as well as developing compact dampers with magnetorheological fluid for vibration control.

We are conducting research with the aim of optimizing engines and transmissions through utilizing various system structures and control theories, with the goal of developing clean vehicles with extremely low fuel consumption. We are also working on the control and development of self-driving vehicles that can drive using only information derived from images.

We are researching and developing compact mobile robots which can be used in investigations and inspections in hard-to-reach places such as underwater as well as under bridges. Analysis on underwater and aerial robots is performed using numerical fluid dynamics to improve driving thrust. We are also conducting research on biological functions such as blood flow.

For fabricating highly functional nano-structured devices in future technology, it is essential to develop the ways to control structures and compositions of materials at the atomic level. We aim to establish the fundamentals for controlling the modes of atomic binding in solids via excitation-induced atomic reactions. In this laboratory, we are also researching the interaction between microorganisms and materials, microbially-influenced corrosion that causes enormous losses, as well as developing antibacterial metallic materials as a measure against nosocomial infection and food poisoning.

We are investigating research related to the development and evaluation of innovative and highly functional materials that would allow structural and functional control at different levels, including everything from a molecular (nm) to macroscale (mm) one. We also conduct research into structural control in regards to advanced ceramics on microscopic and macroscopic levels, as well as physical and chemical investigations for environmental purification, energy, biotechnology, medical and dental applications.

We are conducting research and development into new materials that would have a sensing function. This can be achieved by embedding sensors in the materials. Our goal is the development of new high performance materials that will be able to perform sensing functions by integrating lightweight and high strength composite materials with fiber optic sensors that have a small diameter and can be easily embedded into materials.

We deal with the metallic materials and polymers that are the most fundamental materials supporting our social infrastructure. We work on the development of high-strength, ultrafine grained materials and nano-multilayered films produced using nanotechnology, scanning electron microscopy to observe lattice defects, the evaluation of the heterogeneous deformation of materials, homogenization methods using finite element analysis and other more.