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PhD Candidate to Judge TWI Rapid Proposal Call

Fri, 11 August, 2023

NSIRC PhD candidate and TWI Project Leader, Kartikey Mathur, has been selected to join the panel of judges for the TWI Core Research Programme (CRP) Rapid Proposal Call.

Cambridge, UK - This new funding model is designed for short-term projects where TWI's experts present innovative ideas that require only a small amount of funding to move forward. The goal is to take these ideas and generate quick returns on investment, accelerating technology translation into commercialisation for the benefit of TWI's industrial members.

Kartikey brings diverse experience in the field of automation, holding a Bachelor's degree in Mechatronics Engineering and a Master's in Naval Architecture & Ocean Engineering. Funded by the Lloyd's Register Foundation (LRF), Kartikey began his PhD at NSIRC in January 2021, with a focus on online monitoring of Friction Stir Welding (FSW). The aim of his project is to address major knowledge gaps in the domain of on-line defect detection for FSW and induce more confidence in the process.

Weld quality assessment of FSW joints by continuous acoustic emission monitoring

Friction Stir Welding (FSW) is a joining technique that relies on the localized forging and extrusion of the material to be joined around a rotating tool. The success of making a joint depends on many variables, including process parameters, tool geometry and wear, machine stability, condition of supply of the component, and work holding. Kartikey's project investigates how these variables affect weld quality. Sensors will be selected and installed on the FSW machine(s) and used to assess the FSW environment. Through data collection and analysis, the team have established if the process is in control and whether a good weld is expected.

Friction stir welding was invented at TWI and was rapidly applied by industry. Photo: TWI Ltd
Friction stir welding was invented at TWI and was rapidly applied by industry. Photo: TWI Ltd

Real-time evaluation of weld quality during FSW is a key feature of Industry 4.0. This project aimed to contribute to the ongoing development of this technology.

With committed professionals like Kartikey Mathur, TWI is driving innovation and progress in the field of engineering and technology. TWI is currently inviting representatives from industrial member companies to become Technical Research Committee Members. If you are interested in applying, please visit the TWI career page to learn more about how you can support TWI's mission to advance the field of engineering and technology.