STFC IAA Glasgow
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Glasgow
Department Name: School of Engineering
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Organisations
- University of Glasgow (Lead Research Organisation)
- Dounreay Site Restoration Limited (Collaboration)
- BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (Collaboration)
- Jacobs Engineering Group (Collaboration)
- ASCO UK LIMITED (Collaboration)
- Transport Scotland (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER (Collaboration)
- British Nuclear Fuels Limited (BNFL) (Collaboration)
- British Antarctic Survey (Collaboration)
- University of Bristol (Collaboration)
- National Nuclear Laboratory (Collaboration)
- Lancaster University (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL (Collaboration)
People |
ORCID iD |
| Margaret Lucas (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Li X
(2022)
Ultrasonic augers for improved transport of granular materials
in Acta Astronautica
Li X
(2022)
Autonomous and ultrasonically assisted drilling in a range of rocks and ice.
in Ultrasonics
Li X
(2023)
Rock drilling performance of rotary ultrasonic tools incorporating PZT piezoceramic and Mn:PIN-PMN-PT piezocrystal
in Sensors and Actuators A: Physical
Li X
(2022)
The pulse-elevator: A pump for granular materials
in Acta Astronautica
Wang T
(2024)
Passive Versus Active Control of Weight-on-Bit for an Ultrasonic Percussive Drill
in IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics
Worrall K
(2022)
The Deeper Project: A Testbed for 20m Scale Drilling Technologies
Yang G
(2023)
Simulation and validation studies of a large drift tube muon tracker.
in The Review of scientific instruments
| Description | Partnership with Lynkeos referenced in Sellafield R&D strategy |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | - |
| Description | High Growth Spinout Programme - Lomond Instruments |
| Amount | £200,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Scottish Enterprise |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | |
| Description | MachLab |
| Amount | £227,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | UK Space Agency |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | |
| Description | MoMIS - Mobile Muon Imaging System |
| Amount | £333,700 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | ST/V002260/1 |
| Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2021 |
| End | 02/2023 |
| Description | Small Scale Gamma Spectrometry System |
| Amount | £39,210 (GBP) |
| Organisation | National Nuclear Laboratory |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | |
| Description | Partnership with ASCO UK |
| Organisation | ASCO UK Limited |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The Nuclear Physics group at the University of Glasgow performs world-leading research into radiation detectors for fundamental research and industrial applications. A compact radiation sensors for industrial applications has been developed under funding from UKRI, Scottish Enterprise and NDA. Lomond Instruments (a prospective University of Glasgow spin out) plans to commercialise these technologies for nuclear decommissioning applications. This system matches the spectroscopic performance of incumbent technologies but with 5x reductions in form factor and mass and a 30x reduction in voltage, making it suitable and safe for internal inspection of pipelines down to 1.5" inner diameter. This is undergoing trials with National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL). These trials and extensive market engagement have generated significant interest in this technology within Oil & Gas (OG) decommissioning. ASCO have identified a need for in-pipe capability to characterise Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) contamination inside pipework on offshore platforms prior to transport and for acceptance criteria at onshore decontamination and disposal facilities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | ASCO NORM Solutions based will provide access to industry pipework from oil platforms to test the radiation detector systems. This access to NORM contaminated pipes from North Sea operations is critical to the validation of Lomond's technology. ASCO will provide comparison with the current state-of-the-art metrology, which will be important for disseminating results to the wider industry and quantifying the industrial impact of this future Lomond product. |
| Impact | Scottish Enterprise's High Growth Spinout Programme (2021) award to develop an advanced prototype gamma spectrometer, for radiological characterisation within contaminated nuclear pipework. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Partnership with BAM |
| Organisation | BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Business strategy development |
| Collaborator Contribution | Advice, support and testing for civil engineering applications of muon tomography |
| Impact | Lynkeos Technology business strategy |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Partnership with British Antarctic Survey |
| Organisation | British Antarctic Survey |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Granular materials appear to be easy to manipulate on a small scale, but they can prove to be difficult in bulk. It is easy to push a probe a few centimetres into sand, for example, but the resistive force quickly increases and further penetration becomes impossible. This is because dendritic chains of individual grains will develop, and these can carry the pressure of the penetrator into the diffuse far-field. The University of Glasgow published the first comprehensive study of ultrasonically-assisted penetrators for granular materials in 2017. These penetrators are tuned to vibrate at a high frequency, but with an extremely low amplitude. This movement is sufficient to disrupt the chains of particles so that forces cannot be easily transmitted. The granular material in contact with the penetrator behaves almost as a fluid skin, facilitating progress into the medium. The force required to access a granular material with ultrasonic assistance can be reduced by an order of magnitude, with further reductions in the overall power requirement. This collaboration will enhance the British Antarctic Survey's access to other subglacial environments, namely the granular sediment at the bottom of subglacial lakes. This will require the ruggedisation of our lab-based ultrasonic penetrators for deployment in the field. |
| Collaborator Contribution | British Antarctic Survey will support the development of the tool by detailed interactions with its pool of science engineers and science teams. The tool will then form a key component of bids to explore subglacial lakes through NERC International Partnerships. |
| Impact | - |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Partnership with Dounrey Site Restoration |
| Organisation | Dounreay Site Restoration Limited |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The Nuclear Physics Group at the University of Glasgow are world-renowned researchers of muography, a passive inspection and monitoring technique that uses natural radiation in the form of cosmic-ray muons, to shed unique light on some of the most complex structures on the planet. This technique is used globally for applications that prohibit the effective use of conventional forms of non-destructive testing (e.g., X-rays, ultrasound etc.) including in volcanology, archaeology, and civil infrastructure integrity monitoring. The applicants have led the University's research since 2010 under Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) funding to develop muography for nuclear waste container inspection. This has since been commercially deployed on the Sellafield site by spin out Lynkeos Technology in partnership with National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL). This multi-award-winning technology is a high-powered, planar, permanent installation and unsuitable for applications requiring point-of-inspection analysis in remote locations. The University team are currently developing next-generation portable muography capabilities for ageing reinforced concrete infrastructure monitoring including bridges and buildings. Research includes the development of low-power detectors, custom electronics, and additive manufacturing techniques. |
| Collaborator Contribution | This project will design, construct, and test a borehole system using technologies and techniques developed under STFC CLASP funding. This would raise the borehole technology from TRL2 to TRL4. Lynkeos Technology will industrialise the system and Dounrey Site Restoration will facilitate field trials. |
| Impact | University of Glasgow spin out company Lynkeos Technology Ltd. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Partnership with Jacobs Engineering |
| Organisation | Jacobs Engineering Group |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Business plan development |
| Collaborator Contribution | Market insight |
| Impact | Business plan |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Partnership with Magnox |
| Organisation | British Nuclear Fuels Limited (BNFL) |
| Department | Magnox |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Business strategy development |
| Collaborator Contribution | consultation on business strategy |
| Impact | Lynkeos business strategy |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Partnership with National Nuclear Laboratory |
| Organisation | National Nuclear Laboratory |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The Nuclear Physics Group at the University of Glasgow are world-renowned researchers of muography, a passive inspection and monitoring technique that uses natural radiation in the form of cosmic-ray muons, to shed unique light on some of the most complex structures on the planet. This technique is used globally for applications that prohibit the effective use of conventional forms of non-destructive testing (e.g., X-rays, ultrasound etc.) including in volcanology, archaeology, and civil infrastructure integrity monitoring. The applicants have led the University's research since 2010 under Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) funding to develop muography for nuclear waste container inspection. This has since been commercially deployed on the Sellafield site by spin out Lynkeos Technology in partnership with National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL). This multi-award-winning technology is a high-powered, planar, permanent installation and unsuitable for applications requiring point-of-inspection analysis in remote locations. The University team are currently developing next-generation portable muography capabilities for ageing reinforced concrete infrastructure monitoring including bridges and buildings. Research includes the development of low-power detectors, custom electronics, and additive manufacturing techniques. |
| Collaborator Contribution | NNL provide advice on detector designs and help to explore deployment of an industrialized system. |
| Impact | University of Glasgow spin out company Lynkeos Technology Ltd. |
| Start Year | 2010 |
| Description | Partnership with Transport Scotland |
| Organisation | Transport Scotland |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Business strategy development |
| Collaborator Contribution | Advice on business strategy in civil engineering. |
| Impact | Lynkeos business strategy |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Partnership with University of Bristol |
| Organisation | University of Bristol |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Network & workshop participation |
| Collaborator Contribution | Network & workshop participation |
| Impact | None so far |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Partnership with University of Lancaster |
| Organisation | Lancaster University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Network & workshop participation |
| Collaborator Contribution | Network & workshop participation |
| Impact | Noe so far |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Partnership with University of Liverpool |
| Organisation | University of Liverpool |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Network & workshop participation |
| Collaborator Contribution | Network & workshop participation |
| Impact | None so far |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Partnership with University of Manchester |
| Organisation | University of Manchester |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Network & workshop participation |
| Collaborator Contribution | Network & workshop participation |
| Impact | None so far |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Title | PARTICULATE TRANSPORT |
| Description | A particulate transport apparatus comprising a reciprocation mechanism having a lower end and an upper end. The reciprocation mechanism comprises a sequence of pockets arranged along a particulate transport path of the reciprocation mechanism. Each pocket is arranged so that, when the reciprocation mechanism is arranged in an upright orientation and caused to reciprocate with a source of particulate at the lower end of the reciprocation mechanism, particulate is thrown from each pocket in the sequence to a respective next pocket in the sequence to effect an overall upright particulate transport path towards the upper end of the reciprocation mechanism. |
| IP Reference | WO2023203097 |
| Protection | Patent / Patent application |
| Year Protection Granted | 2023 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | None as yet |
| Title | PARTICULATE TRANSPORT |
| Description | Patrick Harkness pulse elevator |
| IP Reference | |
| Protection | Patent / Patent application |
| Year Protection Granted | 2022 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | - |
| Title | Plasma generation apparatus and use of plasma generation apparatus |
| Description | A plasma generating apparatus comprises a first, powered electrode and a second electrode structure located in front of the first electrode. An insulating layer is interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode structure. The second electrode structure has a plurality of second electrode portions defining gap portions there between. The width of the gap portions is w. The second electrode portions each have a forward surface and the gap portions each having a forward surface, the height difference between the forward surface of each second electrode portion and the forward surfaces of the adjacent gap portions being h, and wherein h is at most 1 mm and the ratio w/h is at least 1. Thus, the forward surfaces of the second electrode portions and the forward surfaces of the gap portions together provide a smooth topography. The plasma generated by the apparatus (in air or other oxygen-containing gas) forms ozone, which can be used to treat foodstuffs, for example. The smooth topography allows substantially all of the plasma to be generated inside a package whose wall is pressed towards the second electrode structure. |
| IP Reference | CN102714912 |
| Protection | Patent / Patent application |
| Year Protection Granted | 2012 |
| Licensed | Yes |
| Impact | Patent licensed to Glanadair for commercialisation |
| Title | Scintillating waveguide support apparatus |
| Description | Support apparatus 100 comprises one or more members 102, 104 provided with holes 106, 108, configured to receive and support scintillating waveguides in a crossed arrangement for detecting ionising radiation. The one or more members may comprise holes extending in a first and second e.g. perpendicular direction, possibly a member may be provided with holes in both directions (figure 1b). The members may be 3D-printed and made of a material suppressing scintillation cross-talk between waveguides. The members may abut against each other to form an e.g. tiled array to align at least some of the holes, allowing waveguides to slide in and pass through more than one member of the array, the members adapted to connect together with one or more dovetail keys (figures 3a-3c). Scintillating waveguides e.g. fibres may be removed for restoration or replacement on an individual basis, e.g. when damaged or worn out. |
| IP Reference | GB2583699 |
| Protection | Patent / Patent application |
| Year Protection Granted | 2020 |
| Licensed | Yes |
| Impact | Licensed to Lynkeos Technology for commercial exploitation. |
| Description | Coverage of Hybrid autophage rocket in University News |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | New developments on a nearly century-old concept for a 'self-eating' rocket engine capable of flight beyond the Earth's atmosphere could help the UK take a bigger bite of the space industry. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.gla.ac.uk/news/archiveofnews/2024/january/headline_1033908_en.html |
| Description | Dounrey site visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | - |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | FT Article on Muon Tomography |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Article on Muon Tomography in FT |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.ft.com/content/c64f90fa-b239-45b2-8414-a4658adeb106 |
| Description | Presentation to Britsh Antarctic Survey |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation on exploration of Subglacial Lake CECS to Britsh Antarctic Survey |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Research Firsts Exhibition |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A researcher led exhibition conceived and curated by the University of Glasgow Advanced Research Centre's Engagement Team. To mark the University of Glasgow Advanced Research Centre's first birthday we asked our University of Glasgow research community to think upon their own research-inspired firsts. These might include the first time something is understood, observed, or demonstrated. Or they might represent a memorable moment such as a first job, book or performance. The components you see within this project represent the entries we received. The diversity conveys the spirit of curiosity and discovery that drives, and indeed unites, research journeys across all subjects and topics. From the first direct detection of gravitational waves to very personal 'first moments' in individual research careers, the exhibition gives a unique insight into the challenges and excitement that goes alongside research and innovation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | SL SNM & Universities Collaborative Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | SL SNM & Universities Collaborative Workshop hosted by Joy Farnaby, School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Scottish Nuclear Supply Chain |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Scottish Nuclear Supply Chain Event 9/11/23 with both of our University of Glasgow spinouts, AevaSpec and Lynkeos Technology, to spread the word about how we've applied fundamental nuclear physics research in the fields of radiation detection and muography to address complex nuclear industry challenges. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | UK Space Agency Launch Technology Press Release |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | UK Govt press release |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/news/lift-off-for-new-launch-technology-with-uk-space-agency-funding |