Optimising Structural Integrity: Addressing Reliability Challenges for Industry Adoption of New Testing Methods

Valerio Carollo: Project Leader Numerical Modelling and Optimisation, TWI

Valerio is a Project Leader in the Numerical Modelling and Optimisation department at TWI. He received his PhD in computational mechanics from IMT Lucca in Italy investigating computational methods for fracture propagation in composite materials. At TWI he has been working on manufacturing process simulations such as additive manufacturing part quality prediction, welding and joining simulations, and new materials performance. His experience in additive manufacturing simulations lay in the development and validation of numerical models for the prediction of distortions, residual stresses, metal microstructure, and mechanical and thermal properties. He is involved in a range of projects in additive manufacturing both for TWI member companies and for public funded projects (Innovate UK and Horizon 2020).

Adam Cooper: Fracture Mechanics and Materials Consultant, Wood Group PLC

After obtaining his PhD at the University of Manchester, Adam completed 5 years postdoctoral research investigating the mechanisms that link manufacture process control to material performance and structural integrity in powder metallurgy advanced manufacturing. His experience lies in PM-HIP of stainless steels – ductile fracture, plastic deformation, porosity characterisation, etc., and is committed to help develop the code case acceptance of such technologies that will accelerate their inclusion in future nuclear manufacturing. He joined Wood plc. in 2018 as a fracture mechanics and materials consultant where is involved in a range of commercial and R&D fracture toughness testing programmes.

Louise Atkin: HM Principle Specialist Inspector, Materials and Corrosion, Health and Safety Executive

Principal Specialist Inspector with HSE, and head of a team of professional engineers within the Energy Division – Offshore, Louise and the team visit offshore installations throughout the UKCS, inspecting arrangements for initial and ongoing integrity management, maintenance and other materials and corrosion engineering issues. Louise joined HSE in 2001 and , prior to joining the Offshore team, spent 11 years working in the Metallurgy and Materials team of HSE’s Laboratory carrying out forensic metallurgical investigations and leading corrosion research projects. She is a Chartered Engineer and Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

Andy Storer: Chief Executive Officer, Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre

Andrew was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the Nuclear AMRC in August 2017, after joining as Managing Director in 2015. Andrew has 30 years’ experience in the nuclear sector, from helping deliver large reactor components for Sizewell B at Northern Engineering Industries, to various manufacturing and engineering roles at Rolls-Royce. He was in charge of the UK submarine reactor component design group, before becoming the General Manager for through-life maintenance and support of the UK submarine reactor fleet. He then became Programme Director for Rolls-Royce's civil nuclear business, leading customer engagement and bids with new build developers. He represents the Nuclear AMRC on the UK Nuclear Industry Council and is an active member of the NIA Delivery Group. He sits on various groups, committees and associations and leads a number of supply chain initiatives on behalf of UK industry and Government. He is a Visiting Professor of Nuclear Manufacturing and Capability Development at the University of Sheffield and a Fellow of the Nuclear Institute.

Bill Press: Technical Specialist - Component Design, Rolls-Royce Submarines

Bill has 22 years mechanical design experience working with Rolls-Royce Submarines and it’s alliance partners to support the UK’s strategic defence capability. He has led technical projects across a broad range of safety critical components and vessels that form the submarines primary nuclear stream raising plant, supporting their design, safety justification, manufacture and operation. Most recently, Bill has applied his specialist technical knowledge to drive forward the introduction of the Additive Manufacture Technology within the submarines business in order to deliver important quality, cost and programme benefits.

Xiang Zhang: Professor of Structural Integrity, Coventry University

Xiang Zhang studied aeronautical engineering at the Northwestern Polytechnical University in China (MSc) and aeronautical structures at Imperial College London (PhD). In her academic career, she has worked for three UK Universities: Imperial College London for seven years as Research Associate; Cranfield University for 18 years with Senior Lecturer and Readership appointments; currently at Coventry University as Professor in Structural Integrity since 2015. Professional status: Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society; Chartered Engineer.

Peter Wood: Head of NDE, Rolls-Royce Submarines

Peter Wood is Head of Non-Destructive Evaluation for Rolls-Royce Submarines. He is accountable for the development and justification of inspections for the Royal Navy’s nuclear propulsion plants. These are applied both during manufacture and in-service: at Rolls-Royce factories, within the supply chain, and whilst deployed at dockyard sites. Peter is a Chartered Engineer (IMechE) with a degree in Physics and MScs including Nuclear Technology & Safety Management.

Julian Emslie: Mechanical Engineer, Rolls-Royce Submarines

Julian is a chartered mechanical engineer who has worked for the Rolls-Royce Submarines business for 8 years. Much of his work has been focussed on the development of structural analysis methods, in particular for fatigue and fracture, and the application of these methods in component stress analyses. More recently he has been involved in supporting the structural integrity policies for the submarines business and deriving the structural integrity requirements for modern manufacturing methods.

Graeme Horne: Consultant, Frazer-Nash Consultancy

Graeme is a Consultant in the Structural Analysis Group within Asset Integrity at Frazer-Nash Consultancy. He has a background in residual stress and fracture, with a PhD from the University of Bristol. He has recently led a project investigating the residual stress resulting from electron and laser beam welding that forms part of the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy’s (BEIS) Nuclear Innovation Programme (NIP) – Advanced Manufacturing and Materials (AMM).

David Duxbury: Technical Lead Structural Integrity, Rolls-Royce Submarines

David entered his current role of Technical Lead Structural Integrity in 2018 and is part of a team responsible for the production of policies, standards, and supporting technical basis to substantiate pressure retaining equipment on the naval nuclear steam raising plant. David has a background in Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) and ten years’ experience working in multiple roles including Chair of the Rolls-Royce Inspection Qualification Body and owner of the Submarines NDE Research and Technology strategy. David is a chartered engineer, member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, and completed his engineering doctorate in research into NDE at Imperial College London.

Andy Imrie: Global Product Launch Manager, Lloyds Register Inspection Services

Andrew has over 30 years’ experience in engineering, working in various technical and commercial roles, across aerospace, upstream, downstream, nuclear, civil, utilities. Over the last 5 years he has been working in Lloyd’s Register’s award winning Additive Manufacturing (AM) practice covering numerous sectors. A qualified metallurgist and mechanical engineer. He has overarching responsibility for the development and delivery of AM services for LR including the design of products and services and the delivery of advice to major clients & governments. He has been a key contributor to the writing of AM (certification) guidance notes and has produced technical papers on AM and is a sought after speaker on this subject. He is particularly interested in ensuring that AM certification is ‘real world ready’ and is closely involved in this area both within LR and across the wider industry. He is also increasingly becoming involved in Block Chain and its application in improving traceability throughout supply chains.

Steven Jones: CTO, Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre

Dr Jones is responsible for developing the Centre’s overall technology strategy and the advancement of applied engineering practices associated with joining and materials sciences into the fission and fusion power communities in addition to the NDA. He is a Fellow of the Welding Institute, UK delegated expert within the International Institute of Welding (IIW), a UK Committee representative for ASME BPVC Section IX and an active member of the UK’s RCC-M working group. He is also a TWI Council Member and Vice Chair of the welding institute’s Professional Board and formerly Rolls-Royce’s Global Engineering specialist for joining sciences.

David Brackett: Technology Manager, National Centre for Additive Manufacturing