Connect, no.144, September - October 2006, p.1

Science award support for TWI's damage mechanism training course

On 10 July 2006 TWI became a project partner alongside BP, Rolls Royce, Ford and Astra Zeneca, by accepting its first student on a Nuffield Science Bursary. The scheme helps students to participate in science-based projects in universities, industry or research institutions during their summer holidays. A four-week project was devised to support Jonathan Johnson develop a basic understanding of metallurgy and structural integrity issues focusing on cast replication techniques for failure investigation specimens.

The replicas will subsequently be used as a teaching aid in TWI's training course on oil refining and petrochemical plant damage mechanisms. It is aimed at inspectors, inspection and other plant engineers responsible for managing process equipment, undertaking risk-based inspection (RBI) and fitness for service (FFS) assessments. The course is based on the new American Petroleum Institute (API) Recommended Practice No. 571, and includes a written examination for students.

The Nuffield Science Bursary is open to first-year science students in England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland. Anyone studying an advanced or higher science course may apply. The project is co-ordinated at TWI by Andrew Low who is a Science and Engineering Ambassador for the East of England. For more information about the Nuffield Science Bursary or TWI's new course on API RP 571, please e-mail: andrew.low@twi.co.uk

Julian Speck, Manager, Structural Integrity Technology Group with Jonathan Johnson	Fracture face of fatigue failure specimen