Webinars
15 July 2025
Joint Industry Project Launch Meeting: Evaluation of Ultrasonic Array Inspection Techniques for Coarse Grain Metallic Structures
Ultrasonic array inspection techniques have become a reliable and efficient method of non-destructive testing in industrial applications. These techniques provide a precise and comprehensive approach for detecting flaws in a wide range of materials. Advanced ultrasonic techniques, including Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT), Full Matrix Capture (FMC)/Total Focusing Method (TFM), Phase Coherence Imaging (PCI) and Plane Wave Imaging (PWI) offer enhanced Probability of Detection, reduced need for multiple probes and scans, better defect sizing and characterisation, higher resolution and imaging capabilities compared to conventional ultrasonic inspection methods. However, ultrasonic inspection in coarse-grained metallic structures presents significant challenges due to signal attenuation, scattering, and reduced resolution caused by the grain structure. Moreover, despite advances in ultrasonic array techniques, uncertainties remain regarding their consistent advantages and limitations for coarse grain materials.
This Joint Industry Project (JIP) will evaluate and compare a range of advanced ultrasonic array inspection techniques to identify the most effective approaches for detecting and sizing flaws in coarse-grained metallic structures. With a wide range of new ultrasonic techniques appearing on mainstream PAUT equipment, this project will provide guidance on the suitability of these techniques underpinned with experimental evidence on a range of industry applications of NDT in demanding industry sectors, such as Power Generation, Nuclear, Defence and Oil & Gas.
Meet the team
Sofia Sampethai
Joint Industry Programme Manager
Sofia is Joint Industry Project Manager at TWI in the Business Develoment section. She is a Chartered Engineer and a Member of the Welding Institute. She has studied Chemical Engineering and her MSc was carried out at ETH Zurich in the department of Process Engineering. Sofia manages funded collaborative projects, including Innovate UK, FP7 and H2020, and the majority of them are in the areas of condition monitoring, sensor development targeting composites failure, and integrity monitoring for casings used in oil and gas industry. She has also been involved in proposal writing for European and national funded projects, and in developing partnerships within industry. Sofia’s work is focused on the research and development of innovative solutions in the area of condition and structural health monitoring.
Channa Nageswaran
Technology Consultant
Channa has worked at TWI, since the beginning of 2003 on completion of an undergraduate degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Imperial College, London. Channa undertook an Engineering Doctorate degree while working in TWI with the Metallurgy Department of the University of Birmingham, delivering a thesis on the development of phased array ultrasonic techniques for inspection of heterogeneous anisotropic materials such as composites and austenitic welds.
Channa is the Chairman of the sub-commission for Ultrasonic Testing for the International Institute of Welding (IIW). Channa worked in the sub-commission to generate the ISO 23864 and ISO 23865 standards for FMC/TFM, performing the role of master editor of ISO 23865 and writing significant parts of the technical content of the document. These documents collated together best practice across industry represented by leading experts.
Channa’s current role in TWI is to be a Technology Consultant focused on R&D towards improved ultrasonic testing (UT) techniques.