Research Associate In Inspection of Micro-Scale Defects Using Ultrasonic Arrays

The role

This 3-year project provided is funded by EPSRC. The project will focus on developing innovative inspection tools for detecting and characterizing micro-scale defects in metallic components using ultrasonic Full Matrix Capture (FMC) array data.

The primary aim of this project is to address a long-standing challenge in the detection and assessment of micro-scale defects in metallic components, which pose significant risks to critical UK industries, including conventional power generation and aerospace. These defects have long been a bottleneck in ensuring the safety and performance of metallic components.

The project objectives are to: (1) develop an experimental and modelling protocol to acquire and classify ultrasonic array data from microstructures and micro-scale defects; (2) create inverse modelling methods for defect detection and characterization; and (3) collaborate with industrial partners to validate these methods through case studies.

You will be based in the Ultrasonics and Non-Destructive Testing (UNDT) research group within the School of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bristol. Your research will focus on developing solutions that advance the state-of-the-art in Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) for detecting and characterizing microcracks in metallic components. You will collaborate closely with industrial partners, including Rolls-Royce, EDF Energy, GKN and TWI, to integrate the developed NDE techniques into real-world inspections.

The University of Bristol offers a fully equipped UNDT lab for NDT, featuring Micropulse ultrasonic array controllers, a Verasonics Vantage ultrasonic array controller, AR amplifiers, and various conventional ultrasound transducers and arrays. Additionally, the Structures Lab houses a comprehensive range of mechanical testing equipment, while the Metallography Labs are equipped with optical microscopy, microhardness testing, and a Hitachi TM3030 Plus SEM. You will have full access to these facilities.

You have a first degree in Engineering, or a Physical Sciences subject, and a PhD that demonstrates your ability to apply rigorous mathematical methods to solve practical problems.

In addition, you should have experience in signal processing, numerical simulation, ultrasonics and non-destructive testing.