We are promoting research and education of all aspects of Mechanical Engineering based on mathematics, physics and vast principles of engineering, so as to develop humans who create "Unique and Best" hyper machines that harmonize with nature and surpass states of the art.

TAKAHASHI Lab.

http://www.tuat.ac.jp/~takalab/

Research Field: Control Systems

(Left)Analysis by means of XMA micro-analyzer (Middle)X-ray diffraction pattern observed in a titanium-aluminum alloy constituted with gamma-phase intermetallic compound and alpha2-phase ordered alloy (Right)Arc melting of the test samples

Researches on Materials Strength and Deformation Mechanisms

Various types of structural and/or functional materials (metals and alloys, ceramics, polymers and composites) are used in modern mechanical systems like airplanes. In this laboratory, mostly metallic materials are focused in its strength and deformation, especially at elevated temperatures. The main subject is concerning the structure-property relationships and their microscopic and/or atomistic mechanisms.
Studies are under way in this laboratory to characterize the strength of titanium aluminide intermetallics that is prospective for lightweight and high-temperature structural applications in future airplanes. Thermal and mechanical properties of NiTi shape memory alloys and their alloying effects are also investigated.
In addition, a very basic study about grain boundary sliding behavior in bi-crystal specimens is being carried out to clarify the grain boundary dislocation model that can describe the special behavior of coincidence grain boundaries.

KUWABARA Lab

http://www.tuat.ac.jp/~kuwabara/

Research Field: Elastic-Plastic Analysis of Solids

(Left) A servo-controlled biaxial tensile testing machine for measuring the elastic-plastic behavior of sheet metals by applying orthogonal biaxial tensile forces to a cruciform specimen (Right) Investigation on the fracture mechanism of metals by applying internal pressure and axial force to a tubular specimen using a servo-controlled tube-bulging testing machine

Plasticity saves the earth's environment

Metals have the property of permanent deformation. It is referred to as plasticity. Scientific knowledge on the metal plasticity is a must for developing and establishing the manufacturing technology that is friendly to the earth's environment. The mission of Kuwabara lab is to perform ultimate studies on metal plasticity and to contribute to the earth's environment and the welfare of humanity.

• To develop novel material testing apparatus, as shown in the pictures above, for precisely measuring the anisotropic plastic behavior of metal sheets and tubes under a variety of loading paths.
• To develop and validate phenomenological constitutive models (anisotropic yield criteria and its associated/non-associated flow law) through the comparison of observed material responses with those predicted using phenomenological plasticity models
• To establish the methodologies for accurate FEM simulations based on refined material models for steels, aluminum, copper, titanium and magnesium alloys. These metals are very important for establishing the manufacturing technology that is friendly for the earth's environment.
• To develop intelligent metal forming machines

NAGAKI Lab.

http://www.tuat.ac.jp/~nagaki/

Research Field: Strength of Materials

(left)High temperature Tensile-Torsional Fatigue Testing Machine (right)Simulation of Thermal Deformation of Steel Plate in Local Heating

Prediction of Deformation and Fracture of Mechanical Structure

When any body is subjected to external force, it deforms as the spring may expand in proportion to applied force (Hooke's law), and internal force called stress is generated inside it. When large stress is generated inside the mechanical structure, even if the deformation is small, it may be destroyed. Therefore, it is necessary to estimate the stress acting in the body and how to deform when the machine is designed. Especially, material behavior at high temperature is not well known because structural change called phase transformation occurs and complicated deformation which does not follow Hooke's law is generated.
In our laboratory, the basic experiment and the computer simulation for deformation / stress have been performed to clarify inelastic deformation behavior at high temperatures.

SAKUMA Lab.

http://www.tuat.ac.jp/~asakuma/

Research Field: Mechanics of Materials

(Left)Robot Imitating Aquatic Animals (Right)Tensile Testing System for Mechanical Evaluation of Biological Soft Tissues

Research on All Deformation Phenomena on Earth

Deformations are observed in materials present all around us.
The deformation mechanics of materials can reveal phenomena that can aid in solving various problems on the design of mechanical systems, bio-motions, medical technologies, etc.
In our laboratory, theoretical and experimental researches on the mechanics of materials are conducted in order to study their deformations with the consideration of nonlinearities.
The target materials are those present around us, e.g., metals, polymers and human bodies.
Further, the applications of the obtained results are also made to design brand new systems of various machines .