Solving NDT&E Challenges for the Future of Aerospace Industry

为了在2050年前实现碳中和，航空航天业正大力开发使用新材料和制造技术的轻型航空结构。其中包括用于塔架和起落架的金属增材制造技术，用于机翼罩和扰流板的碳纤维增强聚合物结构，以及用于机身的混合模式材料。由于安全是航空业的头等大事，因此确保安全关键部件的质量是一项监管要求。然而，这些部件的无损检测和评估（NDT&E）的成本可能很大，通常占总制造成本的三分之一。在役检查对航空公司来说也是一种成本和时间负担。因此，有一个强大的行业对自动检测技术的拉动。然而，新型航空结构的自动化NTD&E带来了一系列挑战，从传感器部署到缺陷检测和表征。因此，与一家大型航空航天公司合作，该博士项目旨在调查和解决这些挑战，解锁新技术以实现净零目标。

To achieve carbon-neutral status by 2050, the aerospace sector is strongly driven to develop lightweight aerostructures using novel materials and manufacturing techniques. These include metal Additive Manufacturing technologies for pylons and landing gears, Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer structures for wing covers and spoilers, and mixed-mode materials for fuselages. As safety is paramount in the aviation industry, it is a regulatory requirement to assure the quality of safety-critical components. However, the cost of Non-Destructive Testing and Evaluation (NDT&E) for such components can be significant, often accounting for a third of the total manufacturing costs. In-service inspection is also a cost and time burden for airlines.As a result, there is a strong industry pull for automated inspection technologies. However, automated NTD&E of novel aero structures attracts a range of challenges, from sensor deployment to defect detection and characterisation.Therefore, in collaboration with a major aerospace company this PhD project aims to investigate and address these challenges, unlocking novel technologies to achieve Net Zero targets.