Department of Materials Science and Processing

Materials Processing Division

Materials Processing Division

Overview

The Materials Processing Division provides basic education regarding manufacturing based on mechanical engineering, such as design mechanics and computer-aided design engineering that clarify fracture events of materials to assist with product design, and production-processing science that is directly related to product manufacturing. We also perform the latest education and research to develop advanced design and production technologies of new materials, and the design, production, and processing techniques essential for applying those materials to new products. Through collaborative subjects with other departments, we incorporate the fields of energy conversion and intelligent machines, for example, developing environmentally friendly design technology and production systems based on information technology.

Laboratory introduction

For faculty member details, see the staff introductions.

Laboratory Fatigue strength, fracture mechanics
Faculty members Professor UEMATSU Yoshihiko
Associate professor KAKIUCHI Toshifumi
Research details With the goal of preventing fatigue breakdown of various mechanical structures ranging from transportation equipment and power plants to micromachines, and to accurately predict longevity until fatigue breakdown, our laboratory conducts research of fatigue occurring in various structural materials and assemblies. Furthermore, we study fatigue behavior of lightweight alloys, 3D-printed materials, friction stir welded joints, and, developing a mechanical fracture prediction method of fatigue life.
Laboratory High-performance surface creation, machining
Faculty members Professor KOUSAKA Hiroyuki
Assistant professor FURUKI Tatsuya
Research details Incorporating the latest research and development in the fields of surface finishing and machine processing, our laboratory conducts various research, from seed-oriented to need-oriented. We develop techniques enabling single-flow/small-lot manufacturing, ultrafast DLC film deposition apparatus with high-density, substrate-enveloping plasma, plasma-assisted lubrication, precision machine working methods for shaping materials resistant to cutting, and the industrial use of metal laminated moldings.
Laboratory Computational materials science, highly functionalized polymer materials
Faculty members Professor YASHIRO Kisaragi
Assistant professor NAITO Keishi
Research details Our laboratory conducts numerical simulations to clarify the laws of control dynamics of deformation and fracture events in the nanometer scope, research of the functionalization of polymer materials such as fabrication and composite materials, and research and development of soft actuators.
Laboratory Impact deformation, processing and melt molding processes
Faculty members Professor YAMASHITA Minoru
Associate professor NIKAWA Makoto
Research details We study impact deformation of structural members, impact plastic processing, injection molding, casting, cutting, 3D-laminate shaping of metals, etc., aiming to develop new manufacturing methods, improve performance of impact-absorbing structural members, and improve quality and productivity in various forming processes. Our laboratory is equipped with experimental devices including a drop-weight impact testing machine, split Hopkinson pressure bar impact and compression testing machine, diecasting machine, molten metal flow testing machine, etc., and software for simulating various types of fabrication.
Laboratory Plastics processing, tribology, smart manufacturing
Faculty members Professor WANG Zhigang
Associate professor YOSHIDA Yoshinori
Assistant professor HAKOYAMA Tomoyuki
Research details Plastics processing techniques are singularly important in the field of industrial processing, which support many manufacturing industries such as automobiles, aircraft, electrical and electronic equipment, to name just a few. Aiming to realize innovative manufacturing through industry-academia collaboration, our laboratory is working on basic research of process tribology, measurements of material properties and heat transfer characteristic, development of processing methods for smart metal molding (IoT) and plate forging, and technological development of hybrid processing methods for biomaterials using 3D-lamination techniques.