Shingo Futamura Explained

Shingo Futamura (April 3, 1938 -)^[1] is a rubber industry materials scientist noted for his concept of the deformation index.^[2]

Education

Futamura completed his undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree at Waseda University in Japan. He earned a master's degree from the University of Michigan in 1968.^[3] He received his doctorate in polymer science from the University of Akron in 1975 under advisor Eberhard Meinecke.^[4]

Career

By 1974, Futamura was appointed as a group leader of polymer physics at Firestone Central Research in Akron, Ohio.^[5] During a career spanning over 40 years, Futamura authored 25 scientific papers and 50 US patents. He worked for Nippon Zeon Co., Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, and Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.

He is best known for proposing the concept of a deformation index to relate viscoelastic properties to real-world tire performance. The concept is used to select rubber compounds that minimize tire rolling resistance, and it is used in finite element analysis to simplify the calculation of energy loss and temperature distribution.^[6]

Awards and recognition

• 1973 - Honorable Mention award for paper entitled "Solution SBR-Study in Copolymerization Dynaimcs", ACS Rubber Division Spring meeting^[7]
• 2014 - Melvin Mooney Distinguished Technology Award from the ACS Rubber Division^{[8] [9]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: Shingo Futamura . officialusa.com . 23 September 2022.
2. Futamura . Shingo . Deformation Index—Concept for Hysteretic Energy-Loss Process . Rubber Chemistry and Technology . 1 March 1991 . 64 . 1 . 57–64 . 10.5254/1.3538540 . 4 August 2022.
3. Book: Regent's Proceedings . 1968 . University of Michigan, Board of Regents . Ann Arbor, Michigan . 1212 . 23 September 2022.
4. Web site: Biographical Sketch . rubber.org . ACS Rubber Division . 23 September 2022.
5. Book: The Michigan Alumnus . March 1974 . University of Michigan Alumni Association . Ann Arbor, Michigan . 31 . 23 September 2022.
6. Gibert . James M. . Ananthasayanam . Balajee . Joseph . Paul F. . Rhyne . Timothy B. . Cron . Steven M. . Deformation Index–Based Modeling of Transient, Thermo-mechanical Rolling Resistance for a Nonpneumatic Tire. . Tire Science and Technology . 2013 . 41 . 2 . 82–108 . 10.2346/tire.13.410201 . 28 April 2023.
7. Web site: Rubber Division ACS Best Paper Awards . rubber.org . ACS Rubber Division . 23 September 2022.
8. News: Futamura among Rubber Division award winners . 23 September 2022 . Rubber and Plastics News . Crain . 9 October 2013.
9. News: 2014 Science & Technology Award Winners Announced . 23 September 2022 . Post Show Daily - International Elastomer Conference . Lippincott & Peto . 2014.