For energy efficient operation of steam facilities, it is often required to measure a wide range of vapor flow rate. Clamp-on flowmeters are advantageous when it is necessary to measure vapor flow rates in various locations within one facility. On the other hand, ultrasonic flowmeters are well-known for their wide range of measurable gas flow rate. In the past, a clamp-on ultrasonic gas flow meter was developed, however there was a need for a damping material able to propagate ultrasonic wave through high temperature vapor pipe. The development of a clamp-on ultrasonic steam flowmeter with a high temperature endurance silicone rubber damping material is presented here. Silicone with high loss modulus has demonstrated good damping characteristic of ultrasonic wave. Using this newly developed flowmeter, 25A SGP 0.3 MPa steam flow can be measured up to 28m/s velocity.

Measurement of steam flow rate is indispensable for a performance diagnosis and an energy solution in factories. However, a sensor installation for steam flow is generally difficult. Because the factories needs to be out of operation temporarily, in the case of installation of conventional flowmeter such as orifice type and vortex type. And steam pipes are necessary to be cut for the installation. Accordingly, clamp-on type steam flowmeter is hoped to be developed.
Therefore, we devised “heater method” for steam flow measurement. A circumferential heater is attached to the outside of a tube. Then, axial temperature distribution on the tube outside is measured. Steam velocity is analyzed on the basis of the temperature distribution, considering heat transmission in the pipe and thermal conductivity in steel pipe. The sensor is heat-resistant and possible to measure high temperature fluid, because it is comprised of the heater, thermocouples and insulator. This paper reports air and steam flow rate measurements by the heater method, and analysis of physical phenomenon such as temperature boundary layer and thermal conductivity in the pipe in case of thin area heating. Then, velocity analysis program was developped on the basis of the results, and each analyzed fluid velocity was compared with reference fluid velocity.

It is important to assess both ultimate strength and fatigue strength of flange for design of the wind turbine tower. This paper introduce current mainstream method for evaluating both assessments. For ultimate strength analysis, assume several destructive modes of the flange and set the weakest mode as ultimate proof stress and evaluate its strength. Petersen and Seidel proposed some failure modes and Petersen method is used in Japan as a design guideline. For fatigue analysis, there are methods by which the relationship of the variation of the bolt stress with respect to the change of the external force of the tower shell is made into a function and a method of solving the balance of the moment in the thickness direction of the tower flange. In Japan, Shumidt/Neuper method belongs to the former as a guideline is used. Also, this paper introduces current approach improving tower flange ultimate strength. Action point correction factor can find the equivalent flange reaction force action point when the flange undergoes elastic deformation. The factor can evaluate ultimate strength accurately of wider flange which deform in larger external load.

Most of the mechatronic equipment is systemized and controlled by software. However, its start is from design work based on the required specification. This design work is carried out through three stages of concept design, basic design and detailed design. And design verification is repeated so as not to cause backtracking work at the design stage. In this report, we introduce concrete method of upstream design of mechatronic equipment development and case examples of in-pipe mobile robot with wheel drive mechanism designed using this method.

We present a topology optimization based on a covariance matrix adaptation-evolution strategy (CMA-ES) and its effectiveness for a multimodal topology optimization problem. Structures are expressed by level set functions optimized by the CMA-ES as design variables and are transformed in a design domain for minimizing a regularized fitness composed of device performance-functions and a structural perimeter. The presented method is applied to the topology optimization for polarization independent optical cloak with structural symmetries about three axes and succeed to obtain an optimal configuration having good cloaking performances.

A nondestructive inspection method using magnetic information is described. In this method, the defect shape is restored by the inverse analysis from the leakage magnetic flux density distribution. Furthermore, enrichment functions are created using conformal mapping. Defects of complicated shape are modeled by extended finite element method using these enrichment functions, without depending on mesh division.

In the age when it is necessary to provide appealing and valuable products, it is expected that "Serendipity" or "awareness" will be generated and innovation will occur by breaking the shells of established concepts and fixed concepts. In this paper, focusing on Y-Gaya, we try to understand the characteristics of the conceptual operation of design in YGaya. Here, we discuss the utility of group thinking not only in the basic flow of searching for design solutions from the requirements but also in the process of increasing desire and deriving requirements from desire.
In general design studies of Yoshikawa, Bricoleur and Engineer were discussed. By understanding the correspondence between "Hound" and "Moon Rocket" in Y-Gaya, we understood the role of these two players and the characteristics of the conceptual operation in group creative activities and the importance of group thinking .

Creation is the first time to create MONO (products) and KOTO(service, business model) that did not exist until now. These depend on human intention (awareness and inspiration). It is the invention to invent a method and means for realizing this MONO /KOTO. As a result of the invention, innovation (dramatic dissemination) occurs when it matches the latent needs of society and customers and brings paradigm shift (good discontinuous change) to values.
In this way, how is creation leading to innovation done? Interest is directed to the proposition of how intention (awareness and inspiration) that is its origin is born. It is natural that it is the source of a series of actions from creation to invention, paradigm shift and innovation. In recent years, in addition to activities to encourage this series of actions, expectations are being made for systematization and formulation of activities that promote "awareness" and "inspiration". So, in this paper, how can we produce innovative products? In order to answer this question, I will introduce Honda's "WAIGAYA" as an innovation activity invented by Japan, after overviewing how to proceed, a method to create a paradigm shift which is a characteristic of Honda WAIGAYA.

“Y-gaya”, which is a habit that engineers thoroughly discuss for long period of time, has been seen as a prominent mechanism to realize synthesis of design leading to actualization of brand new product. Though its effectiveness has been discussed empirically and given philosophical explanations, there has never been any theoretical explanation or systematized methodologies. Former paper attempted to explain “Y-gaya” based on general design theory. However, it could not refer to “Yokkyu”, which expresses what the product desired to be for users and society. As “Yokkyu”is a base for discussions and development of brand new product, theoretical explanation is essential for establishment of sound theoretical foundation of “Y-gaya”. This paper attempts to understand how “Yokkyu” is fermented in “Y-gaya”. As a result, by extending general design theory, fermentation of “Yokkyu” was theoretically explained. In the end, this paper discusses future prospects for systematization of “Y-gaya”.

The conceptual design collects reference materials and reference materials according to the development motive, and creates an image of the required function / structure. Based on this image, I create many idea sketches of concrete ideas.
Idea sketches are important, but technical support is necessary.
For example, "Is calculation and examination of constituent elements done?"
"Is it possible to predict the motion of the operating part and the generated load?"
"Is it possible to secure the strength of the component parts?"
Etc. These parameter studies are important.
In these sketches without Technological support, there are many cases where the design work concretely becomes unsatisfactory.
As a typical example, we considered the parameter study by using the coil spring of mechanical element as an example.
A lot of calculations are necessary, parameter studies take more time than imagined.
Calculating and examining many constituent mechanical elements according to the evolution of ideas takes time.
For this reason it is difficult to predict the possibility of the original new idea.
We report cases and effects of efficiency improvement of calculation consideration at this concept stage.

The Japanese methods, such as "Waigaya" of Honda and "Suriawase", attract attention recently as "collaborative creation work considered from zero in a group. "Participating member's common actual site experience has large role in "group creation" for evoking "flashing" with "finding out". "Suriawase" was effected at manufacturing shop floor in Japan. In group who has done on-site experience and understanding of objective or situation, as for this "Suriawase", good Output(s), such as result of high quality manufacturing shop floor and elaborate design investigation result, were obtained. In current, Virtual Engineering environment progressed greatly and it became time when virtual experience etc. can be performed convenient. Therefore, more people can understand "actual site", "actual part", and "realistic" experience, and turn out in many fields can be effectively "common in thinking".
There are many examples -- creativity discussion was activated by thinking being communalized and correlation of requirement spec was smoothly performed in system investigation. Here, consider role “Shiko-Kyoutu” (Sympathy) in each stage at the time of investigation.

3D printer became a boom all over the world several years ago, and Japan was also active. In these days, in Japan, it is settling down and there is an atmosphere which the temporary boom has left. On the other hand, a fever to the 3D printer has not cooled down in the world. It seems that the synergistic effect of the industry 4.0 is expected and new engineering developments and the topic of peripheral technology have come out actively. Where does this difference come from? This paper mainly discusses the future of Additive Manufacturing from two viewpoints. The 1st viewpoint discusses why a difference in degrees of enthusiasm occurs between Japan and overseas. The 2nd viewpoint discusses proper use of Additive Manufacturing from the standpoint of a process design as direct manufacturing or Mold manufacturing.

In this paper, we introduce a hybrid laser processing machine that employs directional energy deposition method in additive manufacturing. Since the hybrid laser processing machine can perform mechanical cutting by turning, milling and laser deposition, it is possible to build, coat and repair large structures.
The interference between the powder nozzle and the work piece in the conventional machine can be reduced by the single nozzle system. Stable deposition is achieved by monitoring the temperature at the melt pool and controlling the laser output to keep the temperature constant.
Titanium deposition is also possible by forming a localized argon atmosphere around the deposition area.

It was known that helium would improve Head positioning accuracy of Hard Disk Drive (HDD) due to its smaller molecular size comparing with air. But helium sealed HDD was not available for a long time due to technical difficulty of sealing design and process. We successfully developed helium sealing technology by changing HDD structure, optimizing casting and laser welding processes, and selecting optimum 2^nd cover material. Helium sealing technology enabled a much larger capacity due to much higher mechanical packaging density using thinner arms and disks, and also lower power consumption. Now more than 15 million helium sealed HDDs have been shipped since 2013. Helium sealed technology is the enabler for high capacity HDD and helium sealed HDD has become the industry standard in the cloud business HDD market.

In recent years, silicon carbide (SiC) has attracted attention as an alternative material to monatomic silicon improving the performance of power conversion equipment. However, SiC is mechanically and chemically very stable, and it is necessary to understand intrinsic plastic deformability for high precision processing of thin film. Therefore, in order to acquire characteristics in the processing, we will elucidate the mechanism for a process-induced degradation layer which is generated to nanometer size, possibly occurring during surface polishing. In this study, we investigate plastic deformability by a multiscale analysis integrating both molecular dynamics (MD) and peridynamics(PD) theory. In particular, an nanoindentation test of SiC is carried out by using MD method first, and then the elastic properties are extracted from the force curve. Then, these values are applied to PD theory, and a multiscale analysis is conducted. These methods are currently under scrutiny. In this report, we will describe the result using material property values already obtained by experiments and others. The force curve obtained in PD simulation is consistent with the solution obtained by Hertzian theory, and it shows plastic deformation behavior. As the indenter goes in, damage of each particles increases, and subsequently cracks and fracture (regional breakdown) occur. Furthermore, when a parameter of critical stretch between particles which is adjusted to fit to tensile strength and Young's modulus, uplift movement of damaged particles around the contact surface can be confirmed, that agrees well with the same kind of experiment.

The rigid plastic finite element method is widely applied in quadrilateral finite element, and it is necessary conducted re-meshing for changing material shape by processing stage. On the other hand, it is well known that a triangular element division has highly robustness in comparison to the quadrilateral element division. In this paper, rigid plastic finite element method using triangular element with drilling and strain degrees of freedoms was investigated by analyzing fundamental numerical examples.

To tie up the clothes, the robot push the needle for the cloth into the resin cap. Using the resin cap, the tie dyeing operation based on the robot is simplified. To fix the needle, the needle of the robot is sandwiched between two aluminum metal plates. The needle is fixed by the frictional force on both the metal plates. Therefore, the needles often fall off from the plates of the robot. In this study, in order to prevent from falling off, the contact stress distribution among the plate, the needle and the screw are analyzed by the finite element model. The strength of tightening is evaluated through the stress distribution based on the FEM results.

Bacteria exhibit chemotaxis accumulating in higher concentration places by reducing frequency of tumbles (changes of the swimming direction) when they approach an attractant. This process of the chemotaxis has been ever simulated by using the biased random walk model. In this study, we verify the simulation model by measuring the time variation of the distribution of Salmonella typhimurium cells around the tip of a capillary filled with an attractant (0.05 M serine). The steady distribution of cells is reached in 10 - 20 minutes, where the number density of cells decays exponentially with the distance from the attractant. In the biased random walk simulation, a model cell is assumed to move toward the same direction as the previous step with the probability of α and change moving direction randomly with the probability 1 - α when the cell approaches the attractant. When the model cell recedes from the attractant, it changes moving direction randomly. Velocity and directional change of the model cells were determined from the observed results for salmonella cells. The steady distribution with exponential decay is also obtained for the simulation. The profile of the steady distribution depends on the value of α.

Long wire-like devices are used for endovascular treatment. These devices are delivered to a lesion though multicurved vessel. In this paper, the simulations of guidewire insertion into vessel models with different shape in the middle were performed to investigate the effect of the vessel shape in the middle on device behavior. Guidewire model was discretized by short rigid tubes and springs between these tubes. Three vessel models which have the same shape near the lesion and the different shape in the middle were used. As a boundary condition at the entrance of the vessel model, insertion operations were given to the guidewire model. The relation between accumulated insertion operation given a guidewire model and actual depth of guidewire tip in the vessel model, and the tip contact force of the guidewire model was monitored. At the position more than 40 mm away from the different shape region, the different device behavior was observed. And the region also affected the moving distance of guidewire according to an insertion operation. These results suggest that there is a possibility that previous experiences about treatments of similar lesions are not able to directly apply to the treatment for other similar lesion.

Experiments have been carried out to elucidate the mechanism of aging meats of beef and pork in low-temperature environments using the resonance frequency at molecular vibration regime of far infrared ray. The resonance frequency is produced from radiant materials composed from polar crystal metals such as tourmaline, and e-ion, that is, free electron can be also produced from polar crystal metals. The acquisitions in the study show that the aging process on dry aging may be accelerated by resonance frequency in the regime of molecular vibration at far infrared ray and also it is possible to prevent the propagation of mold and bacteria on the surface of aging meats by the reduction process of free electron.

Biomimetics has received much attention in recent years. This study takes notice of the auditory ossicles, especially the ossicles have a flat sound conductive property. There is little research of making a model that has the function of the auditory ossicles. Therefore, this study evaluates the vibration characteristics of a model mimicking the auditory ossicles. Two types of models were made with 3d printers. The first model imitated only the shape of the ossicles. The second model adds 4 beams that imitate some kind of ligaments. The size of two models are 10 times. The experiment measures the amplitude of the bottom of stapedis. At that time, a spring imitating the inner ear pressure was attached to models. Experimental Vibration was given by the speaker and diaphragm. The frequency was set from 300 Hz to 1400 Hz. Sound pressure was constant at 110dB. As the result, amplitudes of 400Hz, 700Hz, 900Hz were amplified by attaching a spring. However, the models didn’t have a flat sound conductive function.

In the field of biomechanics in vivo, functional assessment of the natural and artificial knee joints has been investigated. Therefore, the artificial knee joints have acquired a new support construction and wear resistance. To further improve the functionality of the artificial knee joints, it is important to analyze the patella. Because, we believe patella is involved in deep flexion and stability of the knee joints. This study focused on the patella of the natural and artificial knee joints during squat activity. Motion analysis techniques were image correlation method for the natural joints and shape matching method for the artificial joints. Average errors of these technique were within 1.0 mm for the translation, and within 1.0 degrees for the rotation. The subjects were three natural knee joints and four artificial knee joints (Zimmer NexGen LPS-Flex). We evaluated the six-degree-of-freedom motion of the patella, and the contact location of patellofemoral joints. In the results, the patellar components of the artificial knee joints were positioned medial side compared to the patella of the natural knee joints. Furthermore, the artificial knee joint was confirmed contact with patellar component edge. Therefore, we were concerned about uneven wear of the artificial knee joints. From these results, we showed the importance of considering the design of the patellofemoral joint surface.

The shoulder is very complex because it consists of the Sternoclavicular joint, Acromioclavicular joint and Glenohumeral joint. Therefore, the kinetic analysis of the shoulder was difficult. In this research group, dynamic analysis was made possible by applying the method of dynamic analysis of 6 degrees of freedom using original image matching method. This study aimed to comparison of normal shoulder and rotator cuff injury in motion analysis of shoulder. The subjects were ten healthy participants and five patients who damaged a rotator cuff. We evaluated the shoulder kinematics during dynamic scapular plane full abduction and full external rotation. In result, in the scapular plane external rotation, the largest displacement was an internal/external rotation in the average angle of rotation of a normal, patients each 113.6±11.1 deg, 66.3±13.6deg. In the scapular plane full abduction, the largest displacement was an adduction/abduction rotation in the average angle of rotation of a normal, patients each 97.9±3.0deg，74.8± 23.8deg. In the scapular plane external rotation, the value of a superior/inferior of normal and patients were each 3.2±1.2 mm, 1.5±0.7 mm. In the scapular plane full abduction, the value of a superior/inferior of normal and patients were each 4.1±1.8 mm, 2.9±0.9 mm. Our results showed that we were able to seen the characteristic of displacement of the scapular plane external rotation and full abduction in normal and patients. In the future, we want to obtain a new understanding by analyzing the shoulder after Arthroscopic Rotator cuff repair operation.

The purpose of this study is to clarify influence of brain atrophy due to aging on the relative displacement between skull and brain by using the physical head-neck model during rotational impact. The physical head-neck model consists of skull part, brain part, neck part and head-neck joint. The shape of skull and brain part was based on real-shaped three dimensional CAD data constructed by CT/MRI images. We constructed two different shaped brain models. One model has the brain shape of young adults reproduced (adult physical head-neck model), and the other is model whose volume is reduced by 10% than it (aging physical head-neck model). The same level of rotational impact was given to these models and measured relative displacement between skull and brain occurring in each model. The relative displacement between skull and brain is calculated from the position data of each marker photographed by two high-speed cameras. As a result of that, it was found that the relative displacement between skull and brain is larger in the aging physical head-neck model than in the adult physical head-neck model. Therefore it was revealed that brain atrophy due to aging increases the relative displacement between skull and brain when rotational impact is applied to the head.

Head injury is one of the most severe injuries in most bicycle accidents and helmet is one of the most effective ways to protect the head from injuries. This paper discussed how the bicycle helmets prevented human brain damage due to head rotation by using headform and human FE models. The headform was dropped to a rigid ground and relationship between rotational acceleration and the moment of force (Euler's rotation equation) was examined. Helmeted and unhelmeted human FE models were also dropped in order to examine the rotational motion of head and brain injury in side and rear impacts. The cumulative strain damage measure (CSDM) can be decreased by using the helmet under the both impact conditions whereas neck was compressed and bent due to translational motion of upper and lower bodies. It was concluded that the helmets reduced the brain strain under the conditions set in this study.

We previously reported that the output force distribution at the wrist demonstrated in the hexagonal shape, and the characteristic of the hexagonal output force distribution was suggested by the theoretical analysis of the two joint link model with the muscle coordinate system. The muscle coordinate system is composed of the three pairs of antagonistic muscles consist of mono- and bi- articular antagonistic muscles. The difference between distribution calculated muscle coordinate system and distribution calculated joint coordinate system consists of two joint torques was clarified. The individual functional effective muscular strengths could be evaluated from the hexagonal output force distribution. And, we were proposed measuring method that used the portable measuring system of the functional effective muscular strengths. In this study, developed the application of the portable measuring system, and clarified the effectiveness of the application.

The main method of analysis of interior stress and displacement are the division methods of test samples and we decipher simultaneous equations which have many unknowns. Therefore, we need the specific skill to divide test samples and high-performance computer. This research utilizes a few formulations based on Equilibrium Equation, Compatibility Conditions and Constitutive Equation of Materials to analyze interior strain and calculates interior stress. Therefore, we don't need the skill and knowledge of dividing test samples and we can analyze displacement and calculates interior stress with a few formulations in a row. Also, we can calculate with fewer calculations in comparison to FEM. Comparing this result with FEM, most of the results are the same as FEM in all cases. As was previously mentioned, this formulation can analyze interior stress and displacement in detail with no division of test samples and with fewer calculations. I integrated complex fractional functions which have integral functions by approximate methods. Therefore, the possibility that we can analyze interior stress and displacement more easily exists, if we can get meaningful elucidation of the explicit solution technique.

Load transfer in structure has been guessed by stress or strain. However in structure with notches or holes which cause stress concentration, it is need to consider whether the area shows high stress is related to load transfer. As a result, it is difficult to guess load transfer by stress in complex structure. In this study, the purpose is to develop a method that represents structure as parallel springs from loading point to supporting point to evaluate load transfer quantitatively. A method calculating spring stiffness of arbitrary point in structure is developed by considering an elastic structure. In distribution of spring stiffness, it is assumed that the area of same spring stiffness from loading point to supporting point transfer load consistently. As an example, the spring stiffness was calculated using a rectangle plate of uniform thickness with a tensile load, and it is recognized that the tendency of load transfer shows the spring stiffness distribution. Moreover, the spring stiffness distribution of a plate with a circular hole shows appropriate load transfer without stress concentration.

This paper presents analytical solution for an anisotropic elastic cylinder subjected to arbitorary out-of-plane shear loadings on its lateral surface. Anisotropy of the cylinder may be allowed the coupling effct such as out-of-plane shear (in-plane) deformation due to in-plane (out-of-plane) loading, which is confirmed by its constitutive equation. Several results obtained in this research can be applicable when the two assumptions are kept. These two assumptions are as follows; i) cross section of the elliptic cylinder and out-of-plane external loadings are both constant along its generator, ii) height of the cylinder is much greater than the other dimensions, that is, treatment due to generalized plane strain state is possible. Since similar analytical solutions for isotropic and orthotropic elastic cylinder, which do not have above-mentioned coupling effect, are not derived yet, calculation examples for the cylinder are shown not only general anisotropic cylinder but also isotropic or orthotropic cylinder by several schematics in this paper.