Speaker Interviews: Non Destructive Testing 2017

Ahead of the upcoming Non Destructive Testing 2017 seminar in March, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers recently spoke to Professor Bruce Drinkwater, Professor of Ultrasonics at University of Bristol. Bruce explains his role and involvement in non-destructive testing (NDT) and examination, the number one challenge for NDT and what developments in methods and techniques he is most interested in for the future.

Bruce Drinkwater: Professor of Ultrasonics, University of Bristol

In 1996, after obtaining B.Eng. and Ph.D. degrees from Imperial College, Bruce Drinkwater joined the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Bristol. He was promoted to Professor of Ultrasonics in 2007 and now leads the Ultrasonics and NDT research group. His current research interests include ultrasonic array imaging for NDT, defect characterisation, as well as acoustic tweezers and tractor beams. Bruce’s NDT research has led to the successful commercialisation of an array wheel probe and the imaging techniques he helped develop are now widely used in industry. In 2015, Bruce co-invented the world’s first stable ultrasonic tractor beam.

Q: Could you briefly explain your role, involvement and experience in non destructive testing and evaluation?

Bruce Drinkwater: I am Professor of Ultrasonics at the University of Bristol. There I lead a group of 30 researchers, all working on various aspects of ultrasonics, particularly non-destructive testing applications. Our mission is to come up with the next generation of non-destructive testing technology. And, as non-destructive testing is a measurement science, it’s really important to understand the physics behind any new technology. This means we spend a lot of time developing mathematical models of new inspections to help us explore where a new technique will succeed and where it might be less reliable.

Q: What are you most looking forward to by attending and presenting at this event?

BD: I’m presenting on ultrasonic array imaging. This technology has come a long way in the last 10 years and is now widely used. I’m going to explore the basics of array imaging as well as some for the latest developments.

Q: What is the number one challenge being faced with non destructive testing and evaluation?

BD: The big problem I’m working on is improving defect characterisation. The challenge is to turn the ultrasonic data into reliable information on the nature and size of the defect. Here I’m trying to understand the fundamental limits of the information contained in these signals and how it can be accessed. A key part of this challenge, is to understand exactly how statistically significant this information is.

Q: What developments in NDT methods and techniques are you most interested in for the future and why?

BD: I think the next decade will see dramatic improvements in permanently installed monitoring systems. These have been much discussed, but they are still quite unsophisticated compared with deployable systems such as ultrasonic arrays. Miniaturisation of the sensors, the electronics and the communications will enable sophisticated monitoring systems to be installed much more widely. In the future, the component will tell the operator when it needs replacing.

Ahead of the upcoming Non Destructive Testing 2017 seminar in March, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers recently spoke to Richard Day, Senior NDT Manager at RWE npower. Richard explains his role and involvement in non-destructive testing (NDT) and examination, the number one challenge for NDT and what developments in methods and techniques he is most interested in for the future.

Richard Day: Senior NDT Manager, RWE npower

Richard has worked extensively within the NDT sector for 37 years, 33 years of which have been associated with the power generation industry. He is currently a Senior NDT Engineer with RWE Generation UK responsible for delivery of NDT solutions for coal, gas and renewable generation assets. In addition, he has responsibility for NDT apprenticeships at RWE, contributing to the development of the next generation of NDT personnel. He is a member of the British Institute of Non Destructive Testing (BINDT) and chairs the Certification Management Committee of the Institute.

Q: Could you briefly explain your role, involvement and experience in non-destructive testing and evaluation?

Richard Day: Provision of NDT services to our portfolio of power generation plant. To understand in-service degradation mechanisms and defect morphology and to develop NDT methods capable of detecting and sizing them. Once new inspection processes have been developed, to design training and in-house qualification programmes to ensure that NDT personnel are fully competent in the types of defects they are likely to encounter in a power generation environment.

Q: What are you most looking forward to by attending and presenting at Non Destructive Testing 2017?

RD: To have the debate around certification of NDT personnel; ownership of responsibility in demonstrating competence i.e. the individual, the NDT organisation, the employer or the end user of the service.

Q: What is the number one challenge being faced with non-destructive testing and evaluation?

RD: Current demographic profile of NDT personnel – attracting new apprentices, technicians and engineers into the profession as the current generation retires.

Q: What developments in NDT methods and techniques are you most interested in for the future and why?

RD: Eddy Current arrays that have the potential to offer a surface inspection technique with high P.o.D, sensitivity and repeatability of complex geometry components in critical rotating plant applications.