A Studentship for Fibre based needle ultrasonics

An EPSRC iCASE PhD studentship is available together with NDEvR (http://www.rcnde.ac.uk/) and Rolls Royce Aeroengines to develop needle ultrasonics techniques.

The aim of the research project is to develop ultrasonic transducers smaller than a grain of salt at the end of a fibre that can be used to delve deep into engines through tiny access holes normally considered inaccessible to ultrasonics and endoscopes. This project will leverage optical fibre ultrasonic inspection technologies being developed for bio-medical applications and re-engineer them for industrial applications.

The main theme of the research project encompasses many different fields, including:
• Laser ultrasonics, PS-ultrasonics
• Optics and optical fibres
• Numerical and analytical analysis of EM and elastic waves
• Data acquisition and signal processing
• Practical precision engineering and microfabrication
• Working with industry
• High and low level computer programming and electronics

Applicants should be able to demonstrate a highly creative and practical approach to problem solving, a passion for creating solutions that work in the real world, possess excellent communication skills, be enthusiastic and highly motivated and interested in taking ideas from the back of an envelope all the way through to application in industry. Examples of some of the work we are doing in this area can be found at: http://optics.eee.nottingham.ac.uk/wiki/Laser_ultrasonics

Students should have a 1st class or 2:1 undergraduate degree, or a Masters degree in a related area such as physics or engineering.