Meet the scientists!

We use the same methods that medical professionals use to diagnose illnesses, such as X-Ray, ultrasound (used to look at babies before they are born) and magnetic methods but we use them to look for defects in jet engines. I develop methods to inspect new types of materials.

Sometimes we have to inspect a component that is still in the jet engine. Then the inspection is like keyhole surgery. We put tiny cameras and instruments on the end of very long bendy sticks, which we use to probe the engine.

Engineers who I work with are involved in:

The bird strike test. The aim is to simulate a jet engine hitting a bird while the aircraft is in flight. Dead chickens are fired into a rotating jet engine using a rail gun.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nAc7wab-l4

The ‘fan blade off’ test: The aim is to simulate what would happen if a fan blade (the large blades that you can see at the front of a jet engine) failed during flight. Plastic explosives are used to break off one of the fan blades while the engine is rotating but on the ground. The engine should safely contain the failure and the fire.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ek6adm4iV4Y

How a jet engine works: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUxP3PCDRTE&feature=related

My job is very variable. Some days I write computer software to control machines or analyse data. Often I work with university research groups to solve particularly difficult problems. Occasionally I have to drop everything else to focus on an important issue. The variability is one of the reasons I love it!

Every day I get to solve problems and, when I work it out, it is the best feeling.

This summer I am volunteering at a school in Uganda. Many of the students are on scholarships, without which they would not be able to go to school. I am going to help the science and maths teachers and hope to bring the school some science equipment.