Message from Associate Professor Hasunuma
Message
Shota Hasunuma
The things we use every day, such as trains, airplanes, and buildings, are made by combining many different materials. In order for vehicles, buildings, and other such things to perform their functions properly, the strength of the materials that make them up is important. We would like to introduce the Materials Strength Laboratory, which studies the strength of materials, which are like the unsung heroes of our work.
Q. Please tell us your motivation and background for starting this research.
What made me decide to study materials engineering was taking an introductory course in high school where professors from Aoyama Gakuin University spoke about their fields of expertise. During the course of the course, I was impressed by Professor Ogawa Takeshi's talk about how the 1985 Japan Airlines crash was caused by fatigue failure of materials. This talk made me realize that materials are important for many people to live safely, so I enrolled in Department of Mechanical Engineering in the School College of Science and Engineering Engineering. I then became a researcher, and last year I took over Professor Ogawa's Materials Strength Laboratory. I felt that this was a strange coincidence.
Q. Please tell us about the research you conduct in your lab.
In my laboratory, we are researching the strength and fatigue fracture of materials. Fatigue fracture is a phenomenon in which damage accumulates in materials due to repeated loading of the same place, causing them to break. Fatigue fracture has caused many accidents, including the Japan Airlines crash, and has caused great damage. The accident in December 2017, when the Nozomi Shinkansen stopped operating, was caused by fatigue cracks in the bogies, which could have caused a major disaster if one step had been taken wrong. Research into fatigue fracture is important in order to prevent major accidents and create a safe society. This is not the only benefit of material research; it also plays a role in evolving society. Aircraft and bullet trains have become lighter than they used to be. This has been made possible by the development of light and strong aluminum alloys and carbon fiber reinforced plastics. In my laboratory, we are conducting various research projects, such as the fatigue strength of jet engine materials, the strength of automobile welds, and the surface treatment of motorcycle gears, in order to contribute to both protecting and evolving society.
Q. What do you expect from your students and what are your future plans for the lab?
Research on material strength and fatigue fracture takes time and effort, and requires perseverance and precision. You may have to do the same thing over and over again, which can be difficult. However, accumulating such steady work leads to valuable data and results that support society. The students in the laboratory understand that their research is useful to society and are committed to their research. The Department of Department of Mechanical Engineering offers a wide range of practical training, including pen holder production, bicycle disassembly, and processing training. In addition, you can start research early on through advanced practical programs and lab work. There are also opportunities for collaborative graduate schools and joint research with JAXA and other organizations, so you can work with a wide range of people and conduct research with a broad perspective. Our university attracts unique students from all over the country. Through research on strength and fracture, we hope to send out both knowledge of materials and human resources that are useful to society.
Student
Message
Graduated from Kanagawa Prefectural Odawara High School
Since I was in high school, I wanted to work in a position that would play a central role in Japan's industry, so I enrolled in Department of Mechanical Engineering in the Faculty of College of Science and Engineering. Although I was not particularly good at materials, I wanted to study materials that would be useful to society in order to play a central role in the industry, and decided to enter the Materials Strength Laboratory. In this laboratory, we conduct a wide range of research, from experimental research to simulation and programming research. I was very interested in both experiments and simulations, so when I consulted with Professor Shota Hasunuma about this, he suggested a research theme that would allow me to do both experiments and simulations, which I was very grateful for. This year, my third year, was the culmination of my studies, and in September I summarized my research results and presented them at the 34th Computational Mechanics Conference of the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers. It was my first time to present my research in public, so I was very nervous, but I was able to get through it thanks to the repeated practice I had done. After the presentation, I received many questions, which gave me the sense that people were interested in my work, and I gained confidence that I was working on research that could contribute to society.
After I complete my master's degree, I plan to get a job at a housing manufacturer. I was told that I would be assigned to a construction site at first and work with craftsmen. I made test pieces for experiments in the machine workshop attached to College of Science and Engineering. The teacher at the machine workshop was a craftsman and at first I had the impression that he was difficult to approach, but we became friendly through work and he taught me many things. Therefore, I feel that I can grow as a member of society by receiving a lot of guidance from the craftsmen after joining the company. I would like to gain experience and eventually develop new housing technology and contribute to society. Materials are a fundamental field that is indispensable to society. I highly recommend this to people who want to support the foundations of society.
College of Science and Engineering Department of Mechanical Engineering
College of Science and Engineering provides an environment where students can learn everything from the basics to the cutting edge of science, including mathematics, physics, and chemistry, as well as technology. Under the guidance of faculty members who are engaged in world-class research, we provide a place for experiments, exercises, and research activities using the latest equipment, and we also provide a unique English language education program across all seven departments. Our future-oriented curriculum greatly expands the dreams and possibilities of each student.
Department of Mechanical Engineering has the motto of "Mechanical Engineering that Creates the Future" and offers five fields based on the four mechanics (heat, mechanics, materials, and fluids). Students will develop knowledge that combines mechanical engineering with the latest software technology. In the field of aerospace engineering, we have organized a curriculum that emphasizes practical experience, such as collaborating with JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), and each student will develop their own creative and inventive abilities.
Mechanical Workshop attached to College of Science and Engineering
The machine workshop has over 50 machine tools, including lathes, machining centers, milling machines, and wire EDM machines, and supports practical manufacturing education and cutting-edge research. For example, in the "Manufacturing Practice" lectures, students will understand the entire manufacturing process by making a metal pen holder. In terms of research, students will receive guidance on processing methods and safety management when designing and processing experimental equipment. In addition, in the "AGUmakes Room" located in the machine workshop, students from College of Science and Engineering can freely use 3D printers.
*The years of employment, Position, activities, etc. of the individuals appearing are from the time of the interview (October 2021).
