This project is part of cohort 2 of the CDT in Developing National Capabilities for Materials 4.0 (with the Henry Royce Institute), hosted by the Electronic & Electrical Engineering department at Strathclyde and co-funded by the Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC)'s Core research programme.

This PhD study aims to develop the world’s first laser ultrasound array system for real-time, remote and couplant-free ultrasonic microstructural characterisation of metallic parts using Artificial Intelligence (AI). This system will enable the development, deployment and experimental validation of real-time, in-process, microstructural monitoring of manufacturing processes, a key step towards sustainable and reliable manufacturing of high-value, safety-critical components. In the long term, this material characterisation capability will form the basis of a feedback loop with manufacturing parameters, enhancing control over material properties of parts and enabling bespoke material microstructures.

By proposing a laser-based ultrasonic tomography system, two key challenges of conventional piezoelectric transducer arrays are addressed: a) sensor deployment during the manufacturing process and b) ultrasonic array design. The former relates to inspection in extreme environments, components with complex geometries, and restricted-access scenarios. The latter relates to synthesising arbitrary array configurations by scanning the detection and generation lasers. This experimental capability will be coupled with deep learning algorithms that address the real-time requirements of in-process inspection. This PhD study is timely because the enabling technology is now available in the form of opto-acoustic laser systems and computational capacity for real-time processing.

A lack of in-process validation techniques is a major barrier to Industry 4.0 targets. This study will bridge this gap offering new insight into metallurgy, beyond modelling-based approaches and post-manufacturing studies. In-process Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) is a pressing challenge in manufacturing requiring high resolution and speed of inspection. Therefore, this project will benefit the NDE and the wider ultrasonics community. Finally, this research will enable in-process texture measurement during manufacturing, such as forging and forming with the potential to automate production with reduced costs, waste and energy consumption. This is highly critical for companies in terms of profit, sustainability and compliance with environmental targets.

Further information

Your time will be split between the AFRC and the University of Strathclyde. You will also be expected to undertake several training courses organised by the CDT.