Home / PhD Opportunities / In-Process Weld Inspection during Submarine Build
Open now | University of Strathclyde | In-service availability | BAE Systems
In-Process Weld Inspection during Submarine Build
Develop automated in-process ultrasonic inspection that delivers high-integrity welds right, first time, every time, on BAE Systems submarine geometries and materials.
Lead Supervisor
Ewan Nicolson
University of Strathclyde
Industry Partner
BAE Systems
Confirmed
Project Start
TBC
Target Background
Electrical or Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Computer Science
Second Supervisor
To be confirmed
Industrial Funding
In place
Confirmed
Advert Close Date
ASAP
Programme
4 year Engineering Doctorate (EngD)
with industry placement
Project summary
Aims and objectives
The project will accelerate developments in in-process ultrasonic inspection for BAE Systems submarine geometries and materials. Its objectives are:
Verify the performance and limitations of in-process phased array ultrasonic testing (PAUT) on BAE Systems submarine Double-V Submerged Arc Welds (SAW) and Double-V Flux Cored Arc Welds (FCAW).
Undertake simulations to verify that in-process PAUT can be applied to these specific weld types.
Develop new imaging approaches for in-process inspection of those welds.
Optimise and quantify the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) performance of in-process phased array inspections.
Alignment to STAND-UP impact targets
>50% reduction in overall build or decommissioning process time
>40% reduction in maintenance time
>30% reduction in person hours on builds
Apply for this project
Contact the lead supervisor or programme team to discuss your interest. Full application instructions are on the How to Apply page.
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Right-first-time, every time.
Traditionally, welding and inspection of high-integrity joints are separate, sequential, often manual processes in manufacturing and repair. These limitations reduce productivity, throughput and schedule certainty, and increase rework when defects are only detected at weld completion. The additional energy required for repeated re-heating and cooling cycles to excavate and repair these defects significantly increases the commercial and environmental costs of errors in manufacturing.
A shrinking and ageing skilled workforce, alongside a drive to reduce hazardous working, makes process automation a priority.
Automated in-process ultrasonic inspection aims to deliver high-integrity welds right, first time, every time. Drawing on current industrial operational data, in-process ultrasonic inspection offers significant reductions:
More than 55% in weld process time
More than 50% in overall weld cost
More than 75% in person hours
This proposal seeks to accelerate and propel innovative developments in in-process ultrasonic inspection to BAE Systems submarine geometries and materials.
Ready to apply?
Read the entry requirements, application process and FAQs on the How to Apply page.