K.I.T. TANAKA - SAITO - ICHIKI Laboratory

Our research group started its activities with assumption of present Prof. Isao KIMPARA (from the University of Tokyo) in April/2001.
Dr. Hiroshi SAITO (from Kyoto Institute of Technology) and Dr. Mototsugu TANAKA (from Kyoto University) joined us in April/2003 and April/2007, respectively.
We aim to evaluate the damage tolerance of advanced composite structures, such as aircrafts and ships, to develop integrally molding method of large composite structures, and to develop optimum structural design/creation system of high-functional composite materials, under the spirit to pursue the evaluation and application of composite materials from the various viewpoints.
This activity is being performed in the partial cooperation with MIYANO-NAKADA laboratory (Prof. Yasushi MIYANO and Prof. Masayuki NAKADA: Development of accelerated testing methodology of long-term durability in composite materials and durability designing system of composite structures) and Hiroshe laboratory (Prof. Yasuo HIROSE: Analytical Study on Aircraft Composite Structures) of Kanazawa Institute of Technology.
We had been trying to develop the evaluation/prediction system of damage tolerance in thermal and humid environment on advanced composite materials.
Based on these experience and knowledge, we are now performing a joint study with Next-Generation Aircraft Research Center of Tohoku University as well as research activities as a wing of Center of Innovation S&T based Radical Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program (COI STREAM) "Development of Next Generation Infrastructural System by Innovative Materials".
We are also trying to create environmental-friendly composite materials (green composites) and self-healing composite materials for application of advanced composite materials to primary members in automobiles and aerospace structures.
We recently started trying to create novel-functional composite materials by the prospective application of advanced knowledge and technology, which were established in the aerospace and marine research fields, into medical research fields and so on.
In addition, we started research activities on biomechanics of living tissues and cells, by activating our knowledge and exprience on composite materials.
From April/2013, main research topics of Dr. TANAKA and Dr. SAITO are basic studies on creation of novel functions in composite materilas and industry-academia collaboration studies on fracture and processing in composite materilas, respectively.
In addition, Dr. Kanesaki, who had joined our group as a postdoctoral researcher from Oct./2014, was promoted to Assistant Professor of Okayama Prefectural University in Apr./2019.
And, Dr. Makoto ICHIKI arrived as a Lecturer from Nagoya University in April/2025.
We look forward to your further guidance and support.
Finally, Professor Isao KIMPARA retired in March/2023.
We would like to appreciate his efforts to guide us.

Update: April 1, 2026