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Endo, Hitoshi; Nishida, Toshihiko*; Shibayama, Mitsuhiro*; Li, H.-J.*; Haraguchi, Kazutoshi*
no journal, ,
Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA)clay nanocomposite hydrogels (NC gels) possess extraordinary superior mechanical properties. We have investigated the structure of NC gel by means of contrast variation small-angle neutron scattering (CV-SANS) technique. By applying CV-SANS in a sophisticated manner, the partial scattering functions of each component can be decomposed quantitatively. The extracted partial scattering functions of clay, polymer, and the polymer-clay cross-term were analyzed in detail, and the selective interaction between clay and polymer is revealed. On the basis of these structural observations, it is confirmed that the clay nanoparticles serve as 2-dimensional cross-linkers. Furthermore, the detailed structure of uniaxially-stretched NC gel was also studied by applying CV-SANS, and microscopic origin of the deformation mechanism of NC gel was explored.
Komatsu, Mitsuru*; Nishigaki, Makoto*; Seno, Shoji*; Tagishi, Hirotaka*; Takenobu, Kazuyoshi*; Kishi, Atsuyasu
no journal, ,
Infiltration rate at the ground surface is one of the essential boundary conditions for a quantitative evaluation of groundwater flow. Conventional method for quantifying infiltration rate based on the water budget, however, includes significant uncertainties resulting from different types of quantities to be measured. In this study, focusing on a method where the infiltration rate is estimated directly from temporal changes in soil water contents in the region of interest, the measurement data was confirmed based on the 
unsaturated hydraulic tests. Then, the reliability of the measurement was verified by comparing the data to the laboratory test results and uncertainties associated with the measurements were quantified.
Seno, Shoji*; Komatsu, Mitsuru*; Nishigaki, Makoto*; Tagishi, Hirotaka*; Takenobu, Kazuyoshi*; Kishi, Atsuyasu
no journal, ,
The soil moisture measurement method is being developed with the application of the optical fiber sensor, that is thought to be more advantageous than the conventional methods in the soil moisture measurement regarding its characteristics of multiple-point and long-distance measurement. We report the results obtained in the performance test of the optical fiber moisture metering sensor in the course where its fundamental mechanism and its principle are being developed.