Engineering Doctorate ( EngD) - Photonic sensors for monitoring of prestressed concrete structures and auxiliary systems in a nuclear power plant

Industrial partner- EDF Energy

Structural integrity and health of nuclear power plant concrete containment structures and pressure vessels are of critical importance. These structures are reinforced using prestressed steel tendons which undergo regular inspection and load checking exercises to ensure safe operation. The current load checking procedures that rely on manual intervention would benefit from a complementary online monitoring system, ideally expanded to monitoring other parameters such as CO2 and moisture levels in tendon ducts, the quality of lubricant, and other critical parameters associated with the concrete structure itself and various other power plant auxiliary systems and safety-related structures.

Building upon the existing research collaboration between EDF Energy Nuclear Generation and the University of Strathclyde, the new engineering doctorate project will facilitate the development of non-invasive monitoring procedures using photonic sensors. In particular, the project will focus on the development of metal-embedded optical fibre sensors and a precision sensor interrogation technique to provide consistent, long-term measurements of the loss of loading within concrete-prestressing steel tendons in a nuclear power plant. Moreover, the project will define other associated measurement needs and develop proof-of-concept laboratory demonstrators of photonic sensor systems to further enhance the current inspection and diagnostic capabilities.