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Dr Channa Nageswaran

Dr Nageswaran joined TWI as an Engineering Doctorate student in 2003, during which time he researched inspection techniques for austenitic welds. Channa is now TWI’s Technology Fellow for Advanced Ultrasonic Inspection, having become globally recognised as a leading authority in advanced ultrasonic testing (UT) techniques.

Channa’s influence spans both industry and academia, with work that has shaped international standards. His technical excellence saw him elected as the International Institute of Welding (IIW)’s Chairman of the Sub-commission for Ultrasonic Testing, following his contribution to the development of full matrix capture (FMC) based ultrasonic imaging standards.

He is also a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, where he was recognised for his contribution in authoring the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) publication on the safety of UK assets at risk of damage by high temperature hydrogen attack (HTHA).

d013471_011 (1) Channa Action Shot

At TWI, Channa has supported the TWI Core Research Programme (CRP) as a Programme Manager and continues to advance research as a Level 3 in phased array ultrasonic testing (PAUT).

Channa's technical expertise spans the development of austenitic cladding and weld inspection techniques, the detection of HTHA, high temperature ultrasonic testing and the application of FMC to identify stress corrosion cracking. Channa is currently exploring and developing technology to harness artificial intelligence for UT. 

Additional Roles and Activities

  1. Chairman of the sub-commission on Ultrasonic Testing for Commission V (NDT) of the International Institute of Welding. Elected 2019
  2. Editor and contributor to the ISO standards for Full Matrix Capture / Total Focusing Method imaging technology. From 2016 to 2021
  3. Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). Elected 2018
  4. Core Research Programme Manager, overseeing projects in the Materials, Integrity and Inspection suites. From 2015 to 2021
  5. R&D Roadmap Manager for the NDT Section. From 2016 to 2020

TWI Industrial Members Reports

  1. S Majidnia, I Kotropoulou, G Ptaszek, R Sanderson and C Nageswaran: ‘Ultrasonic Monitoring of Electron Beam Welding’, Industrial Member Report 1134, 2020.
  2. H Kumar, J Lambert and C Nageswaran: ‘Detection of Early-Stage Creep Damage in Welded Creep Strength Enhanced Ferritic (CSEF) Steels in Power Plants’, Industrial Member Report 1113, 2019.
  3. L Zhao and C Nageswaran: ‘Modelling and Experimental Verification of Phased Array Ultrasonic Inspection of Thick-Section Austenitic Stainless Steel Welds’, Industrial Member Report 1101, 2018.
  4. C Nageswaran: ‘Detection and Characterisation of Stress Corrosion Cracking in Austenitic Weld Overlay Cladding for Non-Intrusive Inspection’, Industrial Member Report 1091, 2017.
  5. C Schneider, R Sanderson, C Carpentier, C Nageswaran and L Zhao: ‘Estimation of Probability of Detection Curves for Ultrasonic Testing Based on Theoretical Simulation of the Inspection Process’, Industrial Member Report 1022, 2012.
  6. M Weston and C Nageswaran: ‘Development of Fast Full Matrix Capture Ultrasonic Inspection using Sparse Arrays’, Industrial Member Report 1020, 2012.
  7. C Nageswaran: ‘Development of Phased Array Ultrasonic Techniques for the Inspection of Clad Line Pipe Girth Welds’, Industrial Member Report 941, 2009.
  8. C Nageswaran and C Bird: ‘Evaluation of Phased Array Ultrasonic Techniques for the Inspection of Dissimilar Metal Welds including Cladding’, Industrial Member Report 914, 2008.
  9. C Nageswaran, C R A Schneider and N Decourcelle: ‘Validation of Theoretical Models for Focused/Phased Array Ultrasonic Inspection’, Industrial Member Report 896, 2008.

Collaborative Projects and Key Roles

  1. AutoMon, Innovate UK, 2020 – 2021, Technical Lead
  2. RIMCAW, Innovate UK, 2017 – 2018, Technical Lead
  3. CreepUT, H2020, 2017 – 2019, Technical Lead
  4. HotPA, FP7, 2014 – 2016, Technical Consultant
  5. CreepTest, FP7, 2013 – 2015, Technical Lead
  6. INTERAIL, FP7, 2009 – 2013, Technical Consultant
  7. X-Scan, FP7, 2011 – 2013, Technical Consultant
  8. CREEP, UK Technology Strategy Board, 2010 – 2011, Technical Lead
  9. DISSIMILAR, UK Technology Strategy Board, 2008 – 2011, Technical Lead
  10. RIMINI, FP6, 2005 – 2007, Technical Consultant
  11. NANOSCAN, FP5, 2003 – 2005, Technical Consultant

PhD Student Supervision

  1. Xuening Zou, 2022. Machine Learning to Detect Stress Corrosion Cracking Damage using Full Matrix Capture Data. Loughborough University.
  2. Harendra Kumar, 2019. Early-stage Detection of Type IV Creep Damage in Creep-Strength Enhanced Ferritic Steels. Brunel University.
  3. Ricardo Baiotto, 2018. Imaging Methodologies Applied on Phased Array Ultrasonic Data from Austenitic Welds and Claddings. Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil.
  4. Mario Kostan, 2018. Design and Fabrication of GaPO4 Ultrasonic Transducer for NDT at High Temperatures. Brunel University.
  5. Allan R P Dias, 2013. Ultrasonic Inspection of Triple Point in Lined Pipes. Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil.

MSc Industrial Supervision

  1. Muhamad Syazwan bin Supian, 2017. Investigation of Wave Propagation in Welds with Residual Stress using a Vibrometer. Brunel University.
  2. Muhammad U-Zair bin Md Suhud, 2016. Investigation of Implementing Ultrasonic Inspection of Underwater Structures from a Submersible Platform. Brunel University.
  3. Baran Sahan, 2016. Improved Coupling of Ultrasonic Wedges for use on Complex Geometries. Brunel University.
  4. Sorawit Limthongkul, 2015. Validation of Wave Propagation in Austenitic Welds using Vibrometry. Brunel University.
  5. Monika Ożarowska, 2015. Inspection of Mooring Chains with the use of a Phased Array Ultrasonic Technique. Brunel University.
  6. Dipen Rai, 2014. Development of an In-Situ Scanner for Type IV Creep Damage Assessment of Steam Pipework. Brunel Innovation Centre.
  7. Christian David Medina Rengifo, 2013. Analysis of Mechanical Motion of 5-Axis Scanner and Control Software. Brunel Innovation Centre.

Peer Reviewed Publications

  1. A Dias, C Nageswaran, R Jacques and T Clarke: ‘Medium range guided wave inspection of the triple point in lined pipes by EMATs’, Journal of Nondestructive Evaluation, Vol 38, Issue 3, 2019.
  2. R Baiotto, B Knight-Gregson, C Nageswaran and T Clarke: ‘Coherence weighting applied to FMC/TFM data from austenitic CRA clad lined pipes’, Journal of Nondestructive Evaluation, Vol 37, Issue 3, 2018.
  3. R Baiotto, C Nageswaran and T Clarke: ‘Development of methodology for the inspection of welds in lined pipes using array ultrasonic techniques’, Insight, Vol 59, No 6, June 2017.
  4. C Nageswaran, R Gooch and A Bourgeon: ‘Evaluation of ultrasonic phased array and laser optical techniques for the intermediate inspection of the root and hot pass in girth welds for clad pipelines’, Insight, Vol 54, No 11, November 2012.
  5. M Weston, C Nageswaran, M Sutcliffe, A Peyton, C Davis, P Mudge and P Wallace: ‘Calibration of ultrasonic techniques using full matrix capture data for industrial inspection’, Insight, Vol 54, No 11, November 2012.
  6. C Nageswaran: ‘Coping with failed elements on an array: a modelling approach to the technical justification’, Insight, Vol 52, No 7, July 2010.
  7. C Nageswaran, C Carpentier and Y-Y Tse: 'Microstructural quantification, modelling and array ultrasonics to improve the inspection of austenitic welds', Insight, Vol 51, No 12, December 2009.
  8. C Nageswaran, C Bird and A Whittle: 'Immersion transmit-receive longitudinal phased array probe for stainless steel', Insight, Vol 50, No 12, December 2008a.
  9. C Nageswaran and C Bird: 'Evaluation of the phased array transmit-receive longitudinal and time-of-flight diffraction techniques for inspection of a dissimilar weld', Insight, Vol 50, No 12, December 2008b.
  10. C Nageswaran, C Schneider and C Bird: 'Sound field modelling using SimulUS', Insight, Vol 50, No 5, May 2008.
  11. C Nageswaran, C Bird and R Takahashi: 'Phased array scanning of artificial and impact damage in carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP)', Insight, Vol 48, No 3, March 2006.

Key Conference Presentations and Webinars

  1. Presentation at the NDE in Nuclear conference titled ‘Machine Learning for Ultrasonic Testing to Assess Intermediate Weld Quality’ (2025).
  2. Talk give to TWI Technical Group 8 on industrial perspective on adopting AI/ML into NDT (2025).
  3. Presentation at the NDE in Nuclear conference titled ‘Machine Learning Techniques for Detection and Sentencing of Surface Breaking Cracks using Ultrasonic Data’ (2023).
  4. Webinar on the development and qualification of AI technology for UT systems (2022).
  5. Talk given to TWI Technical Group 8 on critical sizing of cracking and the emergence of Artificial Intelligence as a candidate route for improving sizing capabilities (2021).
  6. Webinar to the Pipeline Research Council International (Houston) Forum on Subsea Technologies on the development of an advanced tool for cladding inspection (2019).
  7. Presentation at the British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing Annual Conference on monitoring electron beam welding at high temperatures during the process (2018).
  8. Presentation at the European Conference on Non-Destructive Testing on early-stage detection of high temperature hydrogen attack using ultrasonic techniques (2018).
  9. Four presentations at the World Conference on Non-Destructive Testing on developments for inspection of nozzles, offshore mooring chains, fatigue cracking and validation of wave propagation simulation in austenitic welds by experiment (2016).
  10. TWI Annual Conference on inspection of weld overlay cladding, giving an overview of advanced R&D activities ongoing at the time (2015).
  11. Invited speaker at the Institute of Physics on the challenges for ultrasonic inspection of critical welds in nuclear power plants (2010).
  12. Keynote speaker at the 2010 joint meeting of the Scottish Branch of the Welding and Joining Society and the British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing.
  13. Presented at the 2009 IMechE Pressure Systems Group seminar on ‘Maximising the Value of Modern Non-Destructive Examination (NDE)’.
  14. Presented papers in the 6th (2007) and 7th (2009) International Conference on NDE in Relation to Structural Integrity for Nuclear and Pressurised Components.

Published Articles

  1. H Kumar, J Lambert, C Nageswaran, H Nadendla and T-H Gan: ‘Towards a viable field deployable ultrasonic technique for detection of Type-IV creep damage in CSEF steels at an early stage’, Proceedings of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Pressure Vessels and Piping Conference, July 2019.
  2. C Nageswaran: ‘Maintaining the integrity of process plant susceptible to high temperature hydrogen attack. Part 1: analysis of non-destructive testing techniques’, Research Report, Health & Safety Executive, December 2018.
  3. C Johnston, C Nageswaran and T London: ‘Investigations into the fatigue strength of CRA lined pipe’, Proceedings of the Offshore Technology Conference, May 2016.
  4. M Kostan, A Mohimi, C Nageswaran, A Dhutti, T-H Gan, L Wrobel and C Selcuk: ‘High temperature gallium orthophosphate transducers for NDT’, Proceedings of the 30th EUROSENSORS Conference, 2016.
  5. M Kostan, A Mohimi, C Nageswaran, V Kappatos and L Cheng: ‘Assessment of material properties of gallium orthophosphate piezoelectric elements for development of phased array probes for continuous operation at 580°’, IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, Vol 108, Issue 1, 2016.
  6. M Budimir, C Nageswaran, L Mazeika and P Theodorakeas: ‘High sensitivity ultrasonic NDE method for early detection of creep damage in alloy steel steam systems in power plants’, 23rd International Conference on Nuclear Energy for New Europe, 2014.
  7. C Nageswaran, ‘Measuring a fatigue crack growth rate using phased array’, TWI Website, 2013.
  8. C Nageswaran, A Day and K Hayward: ‘Monitoring fatigue crack growth in subsea threaded components using ultrasonic phased array techniques’, TWI Connect, 2013.
  9. C Nageswaran: ‘Phased array ultrasonic inspection of stress corrosion cracking in austenitic cladding’, TWI Connect, 2013.
  10. C Schneider, R Sanderson, C Carpentier, L Zhao and C Nageswaran: ‘Estimation of probability of detection curves based on theoretical simulation of the inspection process’, Proceedings of the British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing Annual Conference, September 2012.
  11. G Booth, H Pisarski, C Nageswaran and P Mudge: ‘New approaches to assuring the integrity of pipelines and risers’, Proceedings of the IIW Conference, India, 2011.
  12. C Carpentier, C Nageswaran and Y-Y Tse: ‘Evaluation of a new approach for the inspection of austenitic dissimilar welds using ultrasonic phased array techniques’, Proceedings of the 10th European Conference on Non-Destructive Testing, June 2010.
  13. C Nageswaran, C Carpentier and Y-Y Tse: ‘Improving phased array ultrasonic testing using models to overcome austenitic weld distortion’, Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on NDE in Relation to Structural Integrity for Nuclear and Pressurised Components, May 2009.

Awards

2013: Richard Weck for Best Core Research report on Full Matrix Capture (TWI)

2008: Richard Weck for Best Core Research report on UT for Dissimilar Welds (TWI)]

1996: CREST Gold (Engineering Continuum)

1996: 3rd in National Finals of Young Engineers for Britain

1996: 1st in Regional Finals of Young Engineers for Britain

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