BUBBLY FLOW IN BUBBLE COLUMN
(Multiphase Fluid Dynamics Lab./Div.of Heat Transfer and Fluid Engineering)

Figure 1 shows a bubbly flow in a bubble column. Air is injected into the liquid-filled column from a bottom plate, forming a complex bubbly flow. Numerical simulation has been carried out to understand the complex flow structure in detail. Effects of fine particles, which drastically change its bubble size distribution in slurry bubble columns, are also being investigated.

OBSERVING FATIGUE CRACK INITIATION PROCESS
BY ULTRA-BRIGHT X-RAY
(Structural Safety Evaluation Lab./Div.of Materials Physics and Mechanics)

Machine tool technologies including mechanical components, motion control technologies and advanced industrial software technologies play key roles in the industries. Advanced manufacturing systems laboratory developed the high-speed and high-precision machining technology for jet engine parts based on the modeling and control technologies for multi-axis controlled machining centers (Fig.3).

MACHINING PARTS WITH COMPLEX SHAPES WITH HIGH ACCURACY
(Advanced Manufacturing Sysrtems Lab./Div.of System Design)

Figure 2 shows an example of CT imaging showing corrosion fatigue crack initiation process in high-strength aluminum alloy. This image was obtained by ultra-bright synchrotron radiation X-ray, and clearly shows that corrosion pit (indicated by red) is formed around inclusion (blue), and grew along it beneath the surface.

REALIZING NANO-SCALE SENSORS
(Nano Electro Mechanical Systems Lab./Div.of Innovative Materials and Nano Engineering)

This division promotes advanced researches on optical sensors used for large-capacity information communication (Fig.4) and analysis of biomolecules such as a detection of single molecule DNA, which integrate metal nanostructures on micromechanical structures. Nano and microscale manufacturing technologies can realize advanced functional sensors.