REF: AEMRI-312-PUAC - FMC Portable Ultrasonic Array Controller

Tender description

TWI is one of the world’s foremost independent research and technology organisations, with expertise in solving problems in all aspects of manufacturing, fabrication and whole-life integrity management technologies. Established in Cambridge, UK in 1946 and with facilities across the globe, the company has a first class reputation for service through its teams of internationally respected consultants, scientists, engineers and support staff, whose knowledge and expertise is available to its Industrial Members as and when they require. This specification has been produced as part of an initiative known as AEMRI (Advanced Engineering Materials Research Institute), which is funded by the Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO) using European Regional Development Funds (ERDF). AEMRI seeks to create a unique facility housing a critical mass of equipment, expertise and resources. AEMRI provides an environment to test and prove the limits of performance of advanced materials. Through the use of advanced modelling and simulation methods, full, large-scale mechanical test structures will be designed and built upon finite element analysis (FEA) calculations. Advanced, automated non-destructive evaluation (NDE) techniques will be developed with the aim of saving the industry time and production costs as well as minimising the risk of catastrophic structural failures. AEMRI will deliver the objectives of the project through the following four technical strands:- - Modelling and Simulation of High Performance Materials and Structures. - Advanced Robotic Inspection of Complex Geometry Structures. - Inspection Systems for Very Large Structures for the Green Energy Sector. - Nuclear Fabrication Research Centre. Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT) techniques currently used by industrial partners require extensive skill and experience in both the development and set-up and analysis stages of an inspection. As the complexity of the engineering components and structures increase, together with the use of advanced materials, the need to employ more advanced ultrasonic testing methods such as full matrix capture (FMC) increases across a range of engineering industries. TWI Technology Centre (Wales) is actively involved in the development of FMC inspection and analysis techniques aimed at reducing the time, skill and cost burden of quality assurance of components with challenging geometries. In support of this development work, one state-of-the-art, advanced portable ultrasonic array controller instrument to form the core of FMC ultrasonic development and testing is required. The hardware must facilitate the application of the most recent developments in phased array technology and support FMC, VSA and PWI testing in an industrial setting. The unit housing must therefore be appropriate for use in an industrial environment outside of a typical laboratory. The system is intended for remote robotic deployment so must be ruggedized. Any queries relating to this tender must be submitted using the In-Tend correspondence facility.