Young Faculty：Associate Professor Mikio Sakai

Young Faculty / 016

Associate Professor Mikio Sakai, Sakai laboratory, Department of Nuclear Engineering and Management

<Biography>
2006: Ph.D. from The University of Tokyo
2007: Assistant Professor, The University of Tokyo
2008-present: Associate Professor, The University of Tokyo
2016-present: Visiting Reader, Imperial College London

<About the Research>

In nuclear engineering, a harsh environment should be assumed in safety evaluation, and hence not all the phenomena can be examined through experiments. Numerical simulation is desired to be applied to the systems when experiment cannot be conducted. From this background, advanced computer simulation technologies have been developed in nuclear engineering. As a matter of course, multi-physics simulation is no exception. Numerical simulation of multi-phase flows that is regarded as the typical multi-physics simulations is studied in my group. Modeling and elucidation of the phenomena related to the multi-phase flows are extensively studied, where solid particles and fluid (gas phase and/or liquid phase) are interacted. We develop some original models such as the coarse graining DEM, signed distance functions for arbitrary shape wall boundary and free surface fluid modeling. Our multi-physics simulation technologies have high ripple effect, and hence they can be applied not only to nuclear engineering but also to general engineering. Recently, I try to develop a new research field in collaboration with capable research groups in domestic and overseas universities. At the same time I feel the necessity of not only outstanding technologies but also respect for diversity and productivity in the joint researches.

<Future aspirations>

Multi-physics simulation technologies developed in my group can be applied in various engineering fields. In collaboration with domestic and foreign researchers, I would like to develop new research areas related to the multi-physics simulation. 

Sakai laboratory：http://dem.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/index.html
YouTube：https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=56&v=Rr67bQ61RRU