With a broad scientific view, Capturing behaviors of soil, Observing reactions, and Explaining them theoretically
We have various geomaterials, such as sand, clay, gravel, rock, etc.
And, they change every moment due to mechanical, hydraulic, chemical, and thermal effects.
Moreover, their time scales are from split seconds to several hundred thousand years. It would be a unique characteristic of geotechnical engineering.
To consider such diversity of ground, we have to understand the characteristics and phenomena of soil, soil particle, and mineral crystal.
To achieve it, it is essential to capture phenomena of soil and ground with a broad scientific view, control soil behavior with a sophisticated technique, and adequately observe a reaction. To make understand, furthermore, it would be effective to systemize the observed findings, establish a theory, and conduct a numerical simulation for verification.
With such research purposes, we set goals: "Prevention against natural disasters", "Innovation of construction methods", and "Fostering of creative students and researchers". Beyond previous and current soil mechanics and geotechnical engineering, we are engaging in research day to day.
Research topics
- Utilizing EPP (Expanded polypropylene) block for a soil structure
Expanded polystyrene (EPS) is widely used as a lightweight fill method for filling on soft ground, backfilling structures, and widening… Read more: Utilizing EPP (Expanded polypropylene) block for a soil structure - Seismic resistance of retaining wall and bridge abutments reinforced by EPS and geogrid
Ground reinforcement methods such as geogrid reinforced soil retaining walls, which have been proven to have high seismic resistance, increase… Read more: Seismic resistance of retaining wall and bridge abutments reinforced by EPS and geogrid - Interpretation of osmotic consolidation phenomena through local measurements of displacement and cation concentration
Swelling clays such as bentonite are layered minerals composed of negatively charged clay crystals. Cations in the pore water are… Read more: Interpretation of osmotic consolidation phenomena through local measurements of displacement and cation concentration - Constitutive modeling of expansive soils considering the surface phenomena of mineral crystals
Swelling clays are widely found throughout the world, and are also widely distributed in Japan, mainly in strata from the… Read more: Constitutive modeling of expansive soils considering the surface phenomena of mineral crystals - Ice-water-soil coupled mixture theory and Isogeometric FEM
When water in the ground transforms into ice, force equilibrium, conservation of mass, and conservation of energy with consideration of… Read more: Ice-water-soil coupled mixture theory and Isogeometric FEM - Elastoplastic constitutive model for unsaturated soils
Surface tension acts at the interface between water and air. The surface tension attracts soil particles in unsaturated soil, making… Read more: Elastoplastic constitutive model for unsaturated soils - Modified stress considering the fabric of soil particles and the elastoplastic constitutive model
As an aggregate of particles, soil changes its particle structure as a result of stress history. Even if the stress… Read more: Modified stress considering the fabric of soil particles and the elastoplastic constitutive model - What is constitutive modeling?
In the physical phenomena we witness, conservation laws of physical quantities (governing equations) such as momentum, mass, and energy are… Read more: What is constitutive modeling?
and any research topics which geotechnical engineers must solve are our interesting and mission. Please feel free to consult with us.