Advanced self-configurable non-destructive testing

Loughborough University is a top-ten rated university in England for research intensity (REF2014).

This PhD project is co-sponsored by the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Ansty (MTC). The MTC is one of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult Centres in the UK that develops and proves innovative manufacturing processes and technologies in an agile, low risk environment, in partnership with industry, academia and other institutions. The MTC focuses on delivering bespoke manufacturing system solutions for their customers and operates some of the most advanced manufacturing equipment in the world, and employ a team of highly skilled engineers, many of whom are leading experts in their field. This creates a high quality environment for the development and demonstration of new processes and technologies on an industrial scale.

Find out more: www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/supporting-you/research

Project Detail:

Inspection processes are a central part of quality control in high value manufacturing, spanning, aerospace, power generation, automotive and medical device sectors. Such inspection processes range from simple visual checks through to precision dimensional measurement (metrology) and detailed non-destructive testing (NDT) to confirm the fitness for purpose of a component / assembly across a set of distinct criteria.

This PhD project will provide the opportunity for an excellent candidate to explore the latest advances in inspection in high value manufacturing. The focus will be on overcoming industrial challenges related to inspection performance assessment, most likely through the extensive use of simulation. This will help pave the way towards a more cost-effective and flexible toolset for the analysis of inspection capability than is currently available to support novel inspection approaches.

The candidate will work on industry inspired problems. This will ensure that the candidate will build a sought after portfolio of academic and industrially relevant skills in the area of non-destructive testing and manufacturing engineering.

Funding Information

This call is open for excellent candidates (UK/EU only) looking for a fully-funded PhD studentship. It will run for 3 years and it includes:
• A fee waiver equivalent to the home/EU rate
• An enhanced EPSRC tax-free stipend of up to £22,000 p.a. for three years.

Due to funding restrictions, this is only available to those eligible to pay UK/EU fees. In order to qualify for a full award, all applicants must meet EPSRC eligibility criteria including the minimum UK residency requirement https://www.epsrc.ac.uk/skills/students/help/eligibility/

Find out more:

- www.the-mtc.org
- www.intelligent-automation.org.uk

Entry requirements:

Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2:1 Honours degree (or equivalent) in Mechanical Engineering / Manufacturing Engineering / Electrical Engineering / Computer Science / Applied Mathematics / Physics or a related subject. A relevant Master’s degree and/or experience in one or more of the following will be an advantage: Mechanical Engineering / Manufacturing Engineering / Electrical Engineering / Automation / Applied Mathematics / Robotics / Computer Science / Control Engineering.

Contact details:

Name: Dr Peter Kinnell
Email address: [Email Address Removed]
Telephone number: +44 (0)1509 227146

How to apply:

All applications should be made online at http://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/apply/research/. Please quote the reference number ‘PK012017’ on all correspondence. Please ensure that you select ‘Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering’ under programme name.

Reference number: PK012017
Preferred Start date (if any): October 2017
Closing Date: 22 May 2017

Supervisors:
Primary supervisor: Peter Kinnell
Secondary supervisor: Niels Lohse