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Functional Machine Elements Engineering Lab
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A lab that makes machine elements such as bearings and gears higher-performing through the physics of friction and lubrication.
AboutAbout the lab
Machine elements, made high-performance through physics.
The Functional Machine Elements Engineering Lab studies machine elements such as bearings, gears, screws, and seals.
Machine elements are standardized components used in virtually every machine around us.
From the perspective of tribology, which deals with friction, wear, and lubrication, the lab uncovers the physical phenomena that occur in them.
Based on this knowledge, the lab makes machine elements higher-performing and more functional, and also works on developing new mechanical systems.
Key terms
- Tribology
- The field of study that deals with friction, wear, and lubrication together
- Boundary lubrication
- A lubrication state in which the oil film is extremely thin and a molecular layer formed on the surface governs friction
- Aerodynamic gas-bearing spindle
- A spindle in which the high-speed rotation of the shaft generates pressure in the surrounding air, supporting the shaft while it floats. Because there is no contact, there is no wear, which makes it suitable for high-speed rotation
NewsLab news
A doctoral student received an Outstanding Poster Award at the poster session of the Kansai Lubrication Forum
A master's student received the FY2025 Student Encouragement Award from the Japanese Society of Tribologists
Students received the Graduate Research Encouragement Award from the Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan and the Muto Eiji Prize Outstanding Student Award from the Japan Society for Design Engineering
A paper by Professor Tomoko Hirayama and colleagues was accepted by Langmuir
A paper from the lab was accepted by Tribology International
ResearchResearch themes
The lab aims to elucidate the fundamental physical phenomena that occur in machine elements and, based on that knowledge, to improve their performance and functionality. Its research centers on tribology, the field that deals with friction, wear, and lubrication. The lab also develops mechanical systems built on physical phenomena different from those of conventional machine elements, such as powder handling in space environments using electrostatic and magnetic forces.
*Illustrative imageObserving the boundary lubrication layer
Focusing on the boundary lubrication layer, the lab investigates its structure, physical properties, and the processes by which it forms and detaches, using various interface analysis techniques such as atomic force microscopy and neutron reflectometry.
*Illustrative imageMeasuring flow behavior in thin gaps
The lab studies how shear flow behaves on surfaces where a boundary lubrication layer has formed. It has shown, for example, that once the layer forms, slip occurs at the interface and the apparent viscosity of the fluid decreases.
*Illustrative imageThicker oil films with nanoscale surface patterns
Surface texture is effective for achieving fluid lubrication, in which surfaces slide without touching, separated by an oil film. The lab has confirmed that cutting periodic grooves can increase the oil film thickness by up to about a factor of two.
*Illustrative imageSupporting high-speed rotating spindles
Using a performance evaluation apparatus for aerodynamic gas-bearing spindles, the lab has conducted rotation tests at up to about 30,000 rpm and has shown that optimally designed spiral grooves can reduce runout by roughly half.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Functional Machine Elements Engineering Lab consist of faculty, a secretary, students in the doctoral, master's, and undergraduate programs, and visiting international scholars.As of 2025
- ProfessorTomoko Hirayama
- Associate ProfessorMasato Adachi
VoicesStudent voices
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Ball-bearing-numbered” Niabot / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Observing the boundary lubrication layer: “JKR-full-curve-with-illustrations” Cgay / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Measuring flow behavior in thin gaps: “JOURNAL BEARINGS RUB MARKS - HYDRAULIC BEARING SURFACE RUBBING - NARA - 17420845” 作者不詳 / Public domain (cropped)
- Thicker oil films with nanoscale surface patterns: “Aston Martin oil tank for dry sump lubrication (Autocar Handbook, 13th ed, 1935)” Andy Dingley (scanner) / Public domain (cropped)
- Supporting high-speed rotating spindles: “RX01 Upper Spindle Bearing ( )” tony_duell / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Nano and Micro Systems Engineering Lab): “A MicroVision MEMS mirror” S2upidOnReddit / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Micro Fabrication Systems Lab): “Danos Cristalográficos 5” Hebert Folli / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Solid Mechanics Lab): “Transmission electron microscope (Morgagni 268D) 2pl” Pleple2000 / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
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