Osamu Umezawa

Physical Metallurgy

Dr. Osamu Umezawa is a professor of physical metallurgy in the Faculty of Engineering, Yokohama National University. He graduated Waseda University on 1986 with bachelor of engineering degree in metallurgy, and was also awarded a PhD degree on 1992 by Waseda University. He was a researcher (1986-1995) and senior researcher (1996-2001) in National Research Institute for Metals (now National Institute for Materials Science), Japan. He was also a visiting research fellow in University of Cambridge, Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, from 1993 to 1995. He has moved to Yokohama National University as an associate professor (2002-2005), a professor (2006-now), a vice-president for education reform (2016-2017), and a dean, Faculty of Engineering (2019-now). What his physical metallurgy group has been doing are the patterns in which atoms, defects and grain structures are arranged in the solid state determine properties of polycrystalline. These arrangements can be designed by altering parameters such as the chemical compositions, phase transformations and deformations. Novel processes with low environmental load as well as high-strength and long-life materials in products are needed to create a system for inverse-utilization of recycle barriers, since materials security and long-life materials are a global imperative and the challenge on them should be recognized in the world. We work on microstructural design and the relationship between structure and deformation or fracture behavior. Our mission is to conceive novel materials or processes using critical experiments. He has carried out many scientific studies related to the cracking mechanism due to heterogeneous deformations in metals and alloys by crystallographic analysis, especially cyclic deformation, fracture analysis, cryogenic properties evaluation, etc. The microstructural design and modification of high-strength materials is a field that has been included in his study and yielded fruitful results. He has thereby made important contributions to the practical application of high-reliability and high-performance structural alloys, and then has proposed prototyping technologies. His major achievements in various areas are summarized as follows: (1) High-cycle fatigue properties of high strength polycrystalline alloys and their subsurface fatigue crack generation, (2) Prototype design of environmentally friendly, high-performance aluminium-forged products, and (3) Prototype design of high-strength and environmentally friendly steel. Further, he was instrumental in the building of an international community that discusses environmental issues of industrial products and materials from the viewpoints of both engineering and society. Based on his works, he was awarded a number of academic prizes by professional qualifications.