Department of Mechanical Engineering
Toyohashi University of Technology

Courses in ME

Mechanical Systems Design Course

This course aims to cover the basics of mechanical engineering, including mechanics of solids, kinetics of machinery, machine design, and manufacturing processes; to apply them to advanced areas, such as design of new materials, dynamic system design, molding processes, CAE, micro/nanostructure fabrication technology, MEMS, cell therapy; and to develop highly qualified and talented people in comprehensive machine/system design and in mechanical engineering as a whole.

MEMS/NEMS Processing Laboratory

HP URL https://mems.me.tut.ac.jp/
Keyword Micro/nano fabrication, MEMS/NEMS, Lab-on-a-Chip
Affiliated faculty member

Research summary

MEMS/NEMS Processing Laboratory studies the basics and applications of Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS). We use advanced micro/nano-fabrication and strive to create a new value by combining “mechanical engineering” and “life science.” Application fields are the development of MEMS devices/systems to support innovation in medicine and life science. Currently, our group focuses on four projects: (1) AFM-based nano-fabrication and measurement system for a single cell, (2) microfluidic-based electroporation system for designing cellular functions, (3) centrifugal microfluidic-based immunoassay system for blood testing, and (4) microfluidic-based detection system for simultaneous quantification of multiple nucleic acid targets. Our consistent concept is to “investigate MEMS technologies and create a bridge between MEMS and nano and biology.”

High Throughput Micro/Nano Engineering Laboratory

HP URL https://hmn.me.tut.ac.jp/
Keyword Cell Therapy, Biomicrosystem, Single Cell Processing
Affiliated faculty member

Research summary

High Throughput Micro/Nano Engineering Laboratory integrates the power of micro/nano devices, mechatronics, and information science to achieve a high throughput of operations on the micro/nano scale. We work on single-cell screening, microfluidics, intracellular delivery, and algal control by light, and contribute to cell therapy and drug discovery by manipulating cells and fluids on a small scale.

Machine Dynamics Laboratory

HP URL http://dynaweb.me.tut.ac.jp/
Keyword Vibration Engineering, Dynamic Design, Vibration Suppression
Affiliated faculty member

Research summary

The basic philosophy of our laboratory is to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society based on vibration engineering. Therefore, we are conducting education and research on modeling, analysis, and design of artificial objects such as machines, equipment, and structures. Specifically, we investigate experimental modal analysis, structural health monitoring and diagnosis, identification of system property and characteristic parameters, vibration suppression and control. At this time, we also utilize methods based on data science such as Neural Network.

Material and Structural Mechanics Laboratory

HP URL http://solid.me.tut.ac.jp/
Keyword Materials engineering, Solid mechanics, Tribology
Affiliated faculty member

Research summary

From the viewpoints of strength of materials, materials engineering, and tribology, we study, develop, and design the materials and structures suitable for various purposes by experimental, theoretical methods and numerical simulations. The research targets are polymer materials, metal materials, ceramic materials, and their composite materials from nano- and micro-size to large-scale mechanical structures. We also design and produce the new measuring instruments and develop the software.


Frontier Forming System Laboratory

HP URL http://plast.me.tut.ac.jp/index.eng.html
Keyword Metal forming, Joining by forming, Forming system
Affiliated faculty member

Research summary

Novel forming and joining processes of the high strength steel, aluminium alloy, magnesium alloy and titanium for automobiles are developed in Frontier Forming System Laboratory. In the automobiles, the reduction in weight and improvement of collision safety of body panels are required. To achieve these demands, the high strength steel, ultra-high strength steel and aluminium alloy sheets are applied. However, the problems such fracture, cracking, wrinkling, springback, seizure, etc. occur in stamping. In Frontier Forming System Laboratory, the problems are solved and the forming limits are increased by the designed new forming processes. Not only the new forming processes, but also the new joining processes by plastic deformation are proposed for joining of dissimilar materials such as steel and aluminium alloy sheets. In addition, the process tribology abilities in ironing of stainless steel and aluminum alloy cups are investigated and improved.


Materials and Manufacturing Course

材料・生産加工コースでは、新素材、材料設計、組織制御、材料評価、加工プロセスの基礎を学び、マルチスケールな材料組織の制御とその評価と先端加工プロセスの開発などを探究します。機械工学を基盤とするものづくりのための材料と生産加工の分野で高い能力を有する人材を養成します。

Materials Function Control Laboratory

HP URL http://martens.me.tut.ac.jp/
Keyword Steel, Lattice defects, non-equilibrium process
Affiliated faculty member

Research summary

By introducing disordered region (lattice defects) into a metallic material having a crystal structure where constituent atoms are arranged in three dimensionally ordered structure, microstructure of metallic materials are controlled in Materials Function Control laboratory. We are developing new materials, revealing hidden function of materials, and improving existing properties by applying the microstructure control method using lattice defects.


Development and Evaluation of High Strength Materials

HP URL http://www.str.me.tut.ac.jp
Keyword Severe plastic deformation, Microstructure control, Dynamic recovery, Biomaterials, Bulk Nanostructured Metals
Affiliated faculty member

Research summary

The Development and Evaluation of High Strength Materials Laboratory conducts experimental studies on the strengthening, destruction, plastic deformation, and evaluation of metals and alloys. The Laboratory analyzes material structures and fracture mechanisms from the micro to the atomic level using electron microscopes and X-rays.


Thin Films Laboratory

HP URL http://tf.me.tut.ac.jp/
Keyword Solar energy conversion, Oxide semiconductor, Soft solution processing
Affiliated faculty member

Research summary

The aim of the education and research in Thin Films Laboratory are to realize the CO2-free sustainable society based on chemical thermodynamics, and solid-state physics. We are studying to design and prove the solution electrochemical process for fabricating the semiconducting and ferromagnetic oxide layers and nanostructures, improvement of the smart characteristics by controlling the nanostructure and crystal structure, and solar energy conversion from sun light to electricity, and hydrogen gas by photovoltaic mechanism in solar cells, and photoelectrochemical water splitting.


Interface & Surface Fabrication Laboratory

HP URL http://isf.me.tut.ac.jp/
Keyword Friction Stir Welding (FSW), Particle Deposition Process, Cold Spray (CS), Suspension Plasma Spray (SPS), Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation (PEO)
Affiliated faculty member

Research summary

Development of advanced joining process is the main objective of the laboratory research for fabrication of interface and surface of materials with high-function and high-performance. It involves advanced joining processes based on friction stir welding (FSW) for the bulk materials, advanced particle deposition processes such as cold spray (CS) and suspension plasma spray (SPS), and advanced surface modification process such as plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO).


System Control and Robotics Course

Robotics and Mechatronics Laboratory

HP URL https://www.rm.me.tut.ac.jp/en/
Keyword Robotics, Mechatronics, Actuator
Affiliated faculty member

Research summary

This research group studies elemental technologies such as mechanisms, control and sensors of robot and mechatronics systems, and their integration / fusion technology and their applications. In particular, this group has interest in methods for achieving both high usability such as good operability and maintainability and high performance such as high precision and high speed , improvement method under constrained environment so as to realize a practical and excellent exercise system.


Instrumentation Systems Laboratory

HP URL http://is.me.tut.ac.jp/
Keyword Actuator, Sensing, Agritech
Affiliated faculty member

Research summary

We are developing “Sensing technology” to measure the state of people and objects, and “Actuator” to drive motors and robots, and aiming to apply them to the fields such as medical care, rehabilitation, robots, automobiles, and especially to agricultural production. As an application in agricultural production, we are developing plant diagnosis/monitoring techniques which would realize advanced cultivation and labor management in intelligent greenhouses.


Systems Engineering Laboratory

HP URL http://ise.me.tut.ac.jp/index-e.html
Keyword Optimization, Mathematical modeling, Control
Affiliated faculty member

Research summary

Research interests include industrial applications of optimization, mathematical modeling and control theories. Current topics including industrial collaboration are energy-saving and precision control of machine tools and industrial robots; optimal motion generation and anti-sway control of industrial machines; autonomous mobile robot control; visual recognition of outdoor environment and natural objects; production and logistics scheduling.


Smart Materials Robotics Laboratory

HP URL http://smr.me.tut.ac.jp/
Keyword Polymer actuators and sensors, soft robotics, vibration control
Affiliated faculty member

Research summary

We are aiming for smart materials applications such as soft robotics including artificial muscle robots, industrial machines such as automobile devices. We utilize polymer actuators, polymer sensors, and piezoelectric materials as smart materials. Based on control engineering and physics, our research covers physics, mathematical modeling, simulation, control, mechatronics implementation using microcomputers, and robotic applications.


Environment and Energy Course

環境エネルギー変換工学研究室

HP URL https://ece.me.tut.ac.jp/wp/
Keyword Combustion，Fire，Scale Modeling
Affiliated faculty member

Research summary

This laboratory aims to develop eco-friendly combustion technology with insights into combustion science. The eco-friendly combustion technology does not only mean improvement of energy efficiency of fossil fuel power generation, but also development of fire suppression technologies. Fire suppression technologies will contribute to reduction of carbon emissions as well as improvement of energy efficiency of fossil fuel power generation, since some researchers reported that the amount of wildfire emissions of carbon is equivalent to 20% of the mean annual global carbon emissions from fossil fuels. Unfortunately, the most common cause of fires is human activity such as burning debris, unattended campfire, and so on. Both technologies for improvement of energy efficiency and fire suppression play a key role in reducing carbon emissions for a sustainable future.


環境熱流体工学研究室

HP URL http://www.me.tut.ac.jp/tfe/
Keyword Micro- and Nanoscale Transport Phenomena，Thermo-Fluid Dynamics，Liquid Atomization
Affiliated faculty member

Research summary

At the Thermo-Fluid Engineering Lab, focusing on various scale physicochemical phenomena found in nature, machinery, living organisms and so on, we are investigating dominant parameters from the viewpoint of heat, fluid, and mass transport, and are developing novel thermo-fluid devices for high efficiency and clean energy conversion systems. For example, focusing on molecular and ion transport phenomena in liquids, novel measurement methods of local concentration and flow fields are developed by using micro- and nanofluidic devices. For liquid atomization, details in the process are visualized using a high-speed video camera with custom-made equipment and are investigated by experimental and theoretical approaches.


自然エネルギー変換科学研究室

HP URL http://aero.me.tut.ac.jp/profile1.html
Keyword Fluid Mechanics，Aeroacoustics，Computational Fluid Dynamics
Affiliated faculty member

Research summary

Our main target of research is airflow, sound, and natural energy in our surroundings, and we analyze them by using computers, wind tunnels, and anechoic chambers. In the computational analysis, we are developing a highly accurate prediction technique for the aerodynamic sound generation with the world’s largest-scale supercomputers. In the wind tunnels and anechoic chambers, we reproduce the airflow and sound generation around automobiles, oral cavities, and musical instruments. The reproduced flow and sound are measured and analyzed by hot-wire anemometry and microphones. By combining the experimental and computational analysis, we clarify the detailed mechanisms of aerodynamic sound generation.


省エネルギー工学研究室

HP URL http://ec.me.tut.ac.jp/index_en.html
Keyword Fluid machinery，Electrohydrodynamics，Heat transport
Affiliated faculty member

Research summary

The laboratory performs the study on energy and resource saving including environmental load reduction. For fluid machineries such as hydraulic pumps and axial-flow fans, experiments and computations are conducted to achieve reduction of energy loss and noise. The laboratory proposes a new mathematical model for the dynamic characteristics of lubricating film in fluid power actuator motions. By utilizing electrohydrodynamic flows, the efficient pumps without impeller, actuators and heat control equipment are developed. The control of aerodynamic sound by a plasma actuator inducing flows via generation of plasma is investigated. The laboratory develops an electrostatic filter with the aim of removing minute contaminants from lubricating oils. Moreover, heat transport device without electric power such as loop heat pipe and thermoacoustic heat pump utilizing porous media is developed. The laboratory conducts visualization experiments to clarify heat transfer mechanism and unstable phenomenon related with liquid-vapor phase-change.