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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/M50317/01
Title: AN INTEGRATED INSTRUMENT FOR SCANNING SQUID NON-DESTRUCTIVE EVALUATION
Principal Investigator: Donaldson, Professor GB
Other Investigators:
Pegrum, Dr CM MacFarlane, Dr J
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Airbus Group Limited Hocking N D T Ltd Ministry of Defence (MOD)
Department: Physics
Organisation: University of Strathclyde
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 October 1999 Ends: 31 December 2002 Value (£): 247,818
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Instrumentation Eng. & Dev. Materials testing & eng.
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Aerospace, Defence and Marine Manufacturing
No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
The programme involves the development of a compact standalone HTS SQUID low frequency eddy current non-destructive evaluation instrument. It will be precooled by a Stirling cryocooler, but in operation this will be switched off (to eliminate vibrations and magnetic interference), and perhaps removed, leaving the system reliant on the reserves of 'cold' in a two stage cryobattery. Six hours operation between recharging with 'cold' is envisaged.The SQUIDS will be fabricated in our exisiting facilities at Strathclyde.Once the basic equipment is built it will be employed in the development of optimal SQUID and excitation coil structures and operational modalities for the mapping and visualistion of flaws such as cracks at rivet holes in lower layers (10-20mm depth) of aircraft fuselage joints. Software for optimal display will be developed, partly with the advice of Hocking NDT.Multifrequency techniques, allowing real-time depth profiling, will be investigated.In the second half of the project, the system will be field demonstrated at the BAe Airbus facility at Filton and at DERA Farnborough.
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Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.strath.ac.uk