Machine elements such as screws, gears, bearings, shafts, and springs are components needed for mechanisms. The performance improvement of machine elements is essential for that of the mechanical device. Therefore, in the machine design laboratory, we work toward the high performance and high strength of machine elements in terms of materials, machining, and surface treatments. Specifically, we are working on the performance evaluation of plastic gears using gear testing machines, the rolling contact fatigue life evaluation of bearings with a ball-on-disk contact tester, the sliding characteristic evaluation of steel using a high temperature tribometer.

Bone histology is the study of internal bone tissues, and provides important clues to physiological and ecological aspects of extinct animals such as the growth rate, longevities, potential metabolism and aquatic adaptation.
I am currently conducting researches on bone histology of large tetrapods (e.g., dinosaur, mammal and amphibians) to understand their gigantism, dwarfism and aquatic adaptations.

In the case of metal materials are machined, the surface of materials are plastic defomed. Cristal structure of metal surface is strained by plastic deformation. The crystal structure strain changes the chemical property of surface. This phenomenon is called a mechano-chemical reaction. We study the mechano-chemical reaction and the relationship of machining process and material property.

The engine is an essential piece of machinery that is used in vehicles, electricity generators, ships, and so on. However, fossil fuels are limited in their amount and engines exhaust carbon dioxide from the burning of hydrocarbon-based fuels, which is treated as a cause of global warming. Therefore, in order to deal with these problems, an alternative fuel is proposed that is comparable to fossil fuel in terms of fuel properties such as ignitability, calorific value, cold flow properties and oxidation, but which is environmentally friendly. In this laboratory, a study is conducted on the production and optimal usage of alternative fuels such as biofuel (e.g., biodiesel), gaseous fuel, and so on. Combustion technology for engine systems for low fuel consumption rate using natural gas and hydrogen is also studied.

In order to improve the performance of various industrial devices and to make effective use of energy, it is important to understand and control the mechanisms of momentum, heat, and mass transport by turbulent flows. Understanding of turbulent transport phenomena is also essential for accurate prediction of meteorological phenomena. Our specific research topics include: experiments and numerical simulations to elucidate the mixing mechanism of scalars in liquid-phase turbulent jets; measurements of momentum, heat, and mass transport across wind-wave air-water interfaces to improve the prediction accuracy of typhoons; experiments to elucidate the behavior of droplets and bubbles in turbulent flows; and the development of novel devices (plasma actuators) to reduce fluid friction drag.

The mechanical and electro-magnetic characteristics of metals are dependent on microstructures such as crystal orientation and grain diameter. In recent years, comprehensive studies have been carried out on thermo-mechanical control processing to improve physical properties of metallic materials without adding rare elements in order to save energy and resources. For example, high performance metals, such as ultrafine grain steel and magnetic steel, are developed by a combination of rolling and heat treatment. These metals exhibit uniform characteristics. However, it is more efficient if suitable characteristics can be generated at required positions. In our research, a new technology to control only material surface microstructure is being studied.

1. Organic light-emitting materials for OLEDs or dyes for OPVs are developed.

2. Novel antiaromatic compounds such as Sondheimer-Wong diynes and diarenopentalenes are developed as new types of organic materials.

3. Organic syntheses using organotin cluster as catalysts are developed.

Numerical and experimental studies on transport phenomena, e.g. chemical reaction in beaker, indoor environment with air conditioner, natural environment, fluid flow and heat transfer in industrial equipment
■ patent number: 4931065
title of the invention: collision micro mixer
objective: increasing the chemical reaction efficiency by the collision of water and organic phases in the micro-channel
■ patent number 5504526
title of the invention: formation of slug flow with micro-reactor
objective: increasing the chemical reaction efficiency with the vortices generated by continuously changing the shapes of water and organic phases inside the micro-channel with zigzag walｌ

Powder and colloid are important for manufacturing processes. We study on fundamentals and applications of powder and colloid to contribute to the manufacturing processes as engineers. For example, we developed dry separator using gas-solid fluidized beds for waste treatment and mineral processing.

Metal nanoparticles show unique properties that are different from those of bulk metals. These properties are dependent on their shapes and sizes. We prepare nanoparticles with various shapes and ones with narrow size distributions. Fluorescence intensities are enhanced at the acuate front ends of nanoparticles and/or at the gaps between nanoparticles. The protective agents of nanoparticles, such as ligands, polymers and surfactants, are exchanged for fluorophores easily to adsorb the surfaces of nanoparticles.
The photoinduced reactions on the micellar and vesicular systems and the properties of the micellar and vesicular systems are studied.

The characteristic reddish color pattern called hidasuki appears where the rice straw is in direct contact with the clay because the rice straw supplies potassium that reduces the melting point of the ceramic surface and thereby converts the contact area into a site for the interesting reactions to take place. The sticklike mullite (3(Al,Fe)₂O₃・2SiO₂) particles, the major phase formed in the absence of rice straw, was replaced by corundum (α-Al₂O₃), hematite (α-Fe₂O₃), and others in the surface region of about 50 μm-thick. The corundum precipitated as hexagonal platelike crystals, and on the edges of these crystals the hematite grew epitaxially.

The interactions of surfactants with proteins have been widely studied. Recently, an attention has been paid to the effects of surfactants on the secondary structural changes of proteins denatured by another denaturing factor.

Organisms that can grow in a “extreme environment”, such as the high temperature environment, are called extremophiles. These organisms have unique biomolecules that are adapted to the environment in which they grow. A typical example are enzymes that catalyse most of chemical reactions in cells. General enzymes lose their molecular structure and function in high temperatures (e.g., 80°C), however hyperthermophiles, which can grow at 100°C, have enzymes with a unique structure that can maintain their function even at 100℃. Proteins from extremophiles can enable new chemical reactions that have not been possible with normal enzymes. We will conduct research to elucidate the structure and function of extremophiles, and apply them to industrial applications.

Biosensors using enzyme and antibody and biochips for using biosensor have been developed. For example, chemical agent sensor based on inhibition of enzyme activity and the RT-PCR biochip for rapid detection of COVID-19 have been studied.

Recently, ε-Fe2O3 has attracted interest because of its magnetic potentiality, but there are some difficulties to straightforwardly obtain the pure/single ε-Fe2O3 phase. We have found that ε-Fe2O3 crystallizes epitaxially on crystals of mullite in our study on a Japanese traditional stoneware called “Bizen” . Since the particle morphology of ε-Fe2O3 and the relative ε-Fe2O3-to-mullite crystallographic orientation strongly depend on the oxygen partial pressure during firing and the temperature range, the formation conditions is very complicated. We believe that elucidating the formation mechanism of ε-Fe2O3 will contribute to the development of novel magnetic materials.
We are also working on the development of Al-B-C high-temperature structural materials. Ternary metal borocarbides, Al3BC3, have been considered as promising candidates for lightweight structural components. We have succeeded in synthesizing hexagonal plate-like Al3BC3 particles by a simple synthesis method, and the sintered sample exhibited anisotropic mechanical properties and higher bending strength due to particle orientation. Currently, we are proceeding with various physical property measurements.

Our laboratory focused on a phosphoryl (Ph2P(O)) group’s chemistry as an electron-withdrawing and removable protecting group on terminal alkynes, development of new reation and synthesis of functional molecules are currently investigated. For example, we demonstrated a process-controlled regiodivergent synthesis of triazole derivatives with bromo(phosphoryl)ethyne as common starting material, an alternative synthesis of commercially available pharmaceutical molecule was also succeeded (Org. Lett. 2020, 22, 5099–5103.)

More recently, we synthesized novel π-extended aromatic amines from ynamine (= alkynylamine), and further applications to luminescence, photovoltaics and hole-transporting materials are in progress.

In the design of public cultural facilities, there are an increasing number of examples of design methods that incorporate the users’ ideas at the architectural design stage in order to promote active use.
Our laboratory has collected 70 cases of participatory design from all over Japan. The following participatory design practices were implemented in our laboratory, and the effectiveness of participatory design was verified through analysis of user opinions and post-completion evaluations of these practices.
・Kudamatsu City Community Exchange Center (2013)
・Okayama Prefectural Doctor’s Hall (2015)
・Sanagouchi Village Office (2017)
・Kashiwa City Southern Neighborhood Center (2018)　

In order to ensure safety during construction and to assure quality and performance of buildings, I am conducting research on methods to predict and to evaluate deformation of ground and structures accurately.
Also, to reduce cost, period, and environmental load of re-building, I am researching survey or evaluation methods of existing piles and foundation design reusing them.
In case of disasters such as earthquakes or heavy rains, I quickly survey on site, analyse the cause of damage, and utilise the results for subsequent disaster prevention and mitigation.

One of the important roles of the Building Services Engineering, the follow things must be compatible.
· Building comfort environments for users.
· Adopting energy conservation techniques for the global warming-control measures.
Air Conditioning System : Explaining the effect of natural ventilation by the Computational Fluid Dynamics program.
Plumbing System : Recently, the follow things are realized.
· Water consumption decreases by using water saving plumbing fixtures.
· Booster pump systems increse.
Therefore, I explain the instantaneous flow rates and study the new design method for water supply system.

My spetial field of study is earthquake resistant structure. The way of my study is at first understanding of destruction mode and strength of structure by experiment , and next establishing design method by simulating the experimental results by analysis.
In 2015 I took up my new post of professor of Okayama University of Science, I was beginning of study of Tublar truss structure in steel with locally company. And in 2016 I was beginning study of Base isolation structure and Seismic controle structure by using the small vibration table.
I am planning to study of new structure of minimizing damage under large eathquake expected in the near future.