EngD Studentship in Automated Quantitative Inspection of Nuclear Canisters and Assets

The Centre for Ultrasonic Engineering (CUE) and the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) are seeking an outstanding candidate to undertake research leading to the award of an Engineering Doctorate (EngD) awarded by the Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering at the University of Strathclyde. The Engineering Doctorate degree is a 4-year research degree of equivalent academic standing to a PhD. As a Doctorate student you will have unrivalled access to some of the best teaching and facilities in the world.


The studentship is offered through the EPSRC Doctoral Training in Quantitative Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) which is a partnership between a select group of universities and companies offering industrial doctorates designed to launch outstanding graduates into an engineering career. With close links to the related UK Research Centre in NDE, students are part of a vibrant community of more than 200 researchers and have access to a range of technical training courses delivered by world leading experts.

The Project

Traditionally the inspection of nuclear containers is highly challenging, time-consuming and expensive due to the complexities and logistics of the environment and process. This project seeks to investigate the potential for in-situ automated techniques for quantitative inspection of such containers to allow meaningful decisions to be taken on their future. The opportunity exists, through novel inspection sensors, automation and signal processing to research and develop future techniques for nuclear asset monitoring and inspection at the point of manufacture and through-life.

To achieve this overarching aim requires a fundamental step-change in NDE sensor and probe design, deployment and data processing. Multiple modality inspection sensors will be considered including ultrasonic, magnetic and visual to achieve desired coverage, defect resolution and internal imaging. Data-fusion of such sensor approaches will be investigated to enhance the Probability of Detection (POD) of potential defects and degradation over time. Position and pose localisation strategies will be critical to ensure the potential for accurate defect location estimation and repeatability of measurement. The techniques developed must have potential for automated deployment across a variety of assets and hence must be accommodating of changes in operating environment and probe deployment position. Digital recording, recognition and processing strategies will be considered to ensure degradation over time can be accurately measured, detected and reported.

The project is directly relevant to current and future Nuclear sector requirements and presents a great opportunity to become involved early in what is a very important and strategic area of focus, not only in the UK but worldwide. The EngD will consider the requirements of inspection of such canisters through-life and also at the point of manufacture.

The project will make extensive use of the Facility for Innovation and Research in Structural Testing and the student will have access to industry leading hardware and software along with the opportunity to work with the industrial partner and their collaborators through mock-up deployment rigs and trials. There will be opportunities to spend time on-site working with the industry partner to gain a greater appreciation of the specific industrial challenges and opportunity for automated inspection in their sector.

Candidate requirements

You will be an enthusiastic and self-motivated person who meets the academic requirements for enrolment for a doctorate at the University of Strathclyde. You will have at least an upper 2nd class honours degree in mechanical engineering, electoral engineering, physics or a related subject, and an enquiring and rigorous approach to research together with a strong intellect and disciplined work habits. Good team-working, observational and communication skills are essential.

To find out more about research at the University of Strathclyde in this area, go to: https://www.strath.ac.uk/research/subjects/electronicelectricalengineering/instituteforsensorssignalscommunications/centreforultrasonicengineering/ for information about other projects available through the Doctoral Training centre go to: https://www.rcnde.ac.uk/how-to-apply/

Eligibility
UK/EU applicants with 3 years residency in the UK are eligible to receive a tax-free EPSRC bursary of over £16k per annum, plus a generous top up via NNL so that overall stipend will be more than £20k per annum.
Interested applicants should send an up-to-date curriculum vitae to the Doctoral Training Centre Administrator Nina Hancock [Email Address Removed] +44 (0)20 7594 7068.