Sep 19 2016
TWI is forming a new industrial advisory group with a mission to provide input to the development of a new protocol for acceptance of new testing techniques in the aerospace sector.
Currently novel non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques must undergo strict and comprehensive experimental probability of detection (POD) trials before they can be approved for use in the aerospace sector.
The new group will provide vital input to model-assisted POD (MAPOD) trials, with a view to replacing aspects of today’s costly and time-consuming POD trials with computer-modelled simulations. This would allow breakthrough technologies to gain acceptance much more quickly, bringing more effective NDT techniques to market sooner and generating efficiency gains throughout the sector.
Aerospace companies and other stakeholders are being invited to join the MAPOD advisory group, which will meet at least once a year for the three-year duration of the project.
The MAPOD investigation will be based on recommendations from the Military Aircraft Structures Airworthiness Advisory Group and carried out in conjunction with project sponsor DSTL and the University of Bristol, which will provide aerospace NDT experts for technical oversight of the project.
Current mechanisms in place are not always practicable and are cost-prohibitive, often acting as a barrier to the introduction of new NDT capabilities into service. The MAPOD approach that we are aiming to develop would address these issues, but to ensure early adoption across the industry we need input from relevant stakeholders to help define the protocol requirements, scope and constraints.
Professor Ian Cooper, co-ordinator of the new industrial advisory group
Full details of the MAPOD project and invitation to get involved can be found in this downloadable project flyer.
If you have any questions about participation in the group or would like to register your interest, contact project manager Ian Nicholson at [email protected].