Research activities 

The performance requirements for materials used in mechanical components and structures are highly diverse. In our laboratory, we conduct research on metals (including alloys and intermetallic compounds), ceramics, and plastics, as well as composite technologies that skillfully combine these materials to realize properties unattainable by any single material alone. Through this approach, we aim to develop advanced mechanical materials that can meet a wide range of industrial and societal needs. In particular, we focus on the creation of extreme structural materials capable of operating under extraordinary conditions of temperature, pressure, and atmosphere that are far beyond those encountered in everyday life.

More specifically, our research targets Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs), which are used for turbine blades in aircraft jet engines, and Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics (CFRPs), which are lightweight, high-performance materials widely used in automobiles, aircraft, and infrastructure structures. We quantitatively investigate the mechanisms governing their mechanical performance, as well as the highly complex processes of physical damage, fracture, and chemical degradation, with the goal of accelerating their practical implementation in society.

Our laboratory develops experimental techniques capable of capturing three-dimensional damage and fracture behavior in heterogeneous composite materials. Based on these observations, we also perform modeling and numerical simulations. While conventional trial-and-error experimentation remains important, we seek to establish new methodologies that enable high-throughput measurement of material responses under mechanical and thermal loading, allowing the acquisition of large amounts of feature data from a single experiment. To achieve this, we actively utilize image processing and machine learning techniques.

Composite materials inherently involve highly complicated manufacturing processes with an enormous number of parameters. To move beyond manufacturing approaches that rely heavily on experience and intuition, and to broaden the applications of composite materials, it is essential to reduce research and development costs and lower barriers to entry for new participants. In our laboratory, we employ computational science approaches such as Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations to elucidate the phenomena occurring during material processing and manufacturing.

In addition to research on existing materials, we believe that the creation of novel materials surpassing the limitations of current systems is indispensable for maintaining international competitiveness. Therefore, we are also engaged in fundamental research with a long-term perspective extending 10 to 20 years into the future. Examples include materials design based on computational thermodynamics and the construction of databases through analyses using Molecular Dynamics (MD) and Density Functional Theory (DFT).

Our laboratory covers a broad spectrum of research, ranging from fundamental science to practical engineering applications. We actively promote interdisciplinary research that transcends conventional academic boundaries and strongly encourage collaboration with industry. We welcome not only students and researchers specializing in mechanical engineering, but also individuals with diverse interests, perspectives, and strengths.

If you are interested in our research activities, please feel free to contact us.