Launch of TWI’s 2024 Core Research Programme Projects

TWI’s Core Research Programme (CRP) is designed to meet the needs of our Industrial Member companies and address their most significant technology challenges. It follows a project-based approach to provide tailored solutions to emerging technical and operational needs, funded by our Industrial Members' annual subscriptions.

The CRP is aligned to TWI’s Technology Roadmap and Corporate Strategy, supporting both TWI and its Industrial Member companies to optimise, extend and create new technologies and systems, processes and procedures, products and services, and capabilities.

Each year TWI’s Research Board selects new projects that have been identified as being of critical interest to our Industrial Members, focused on materials joining, manufacturing and engineering processes. The projects are led by dedicated teams of TWI experts, supported by mentors from industry, harnessing innovative thinking and approaches.

For 2024, the projects selected by the Research Board are grouped into the following capabilities from the TWI Technology Roadmap:

Welding and Joining;

• Non-Destructive Evaluation of Friction Stir Welds Using Machine Learning
• The Joining of DED Parts by Laser Welding

Additive and Near Net Shape Manufacturing;

• Digital Transformation using Predictive Analytics for Near Net Shape Powder Metallurgy Hot Isostatic Pressing Smart Manufacturing
• Development of a Machine Learning Tool to Aid Wire DED AM Process Parameter and Toolpath Selection via Bead Geometry Prediction

Environmental Performance of Materials and Welds;

• Corrosion Performance of Corrosion Resistant Alloys Produced by Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing
• Test Methods for Evaluation of Coatings for Hydrogen Service

Advanced NDT;

• Interpreting Detected Defects in WAAM With NDE Techniques And AI
• Application of Eddy Current Array for Digitalisation of Manufacturing Data
• Generation of Samples Containing Real Life Defects in a Range of Metals of Interest to Fusion Characterised by The Most Appropriate NDE Method

Automated and Remote NDT;

• Autonomous Robotic Inspection System for NDT Utilising Automated Digital Twin Generation

At the end of each project, in-depth reports are published exclusively for TWI Industrial Members. The reports grow TWI’s already extensive knowledge-base and help maximise benefit, cost effectiveness and tangible operating impact for our Industrial Members.

In addition, the CRP will also be funding four new PhDs at the National Structural Integrity Research Centre (NSIRC). Through these PhDs, TWI will gain fundamental knowledge to underpin future CRP research. The research topics selected for 2024 are:

• Novel coatings for Hydrogen service
• Structural Integrity of Offshore Wind Substructures
• Multi-Frequency Microwave Inspection Research & Data Analysis
• Electrical Properties and Performance of Conducting Polymer Composites

Visit our dedicated website to learn more about the Core Research Programme.