Academic Profile & Projects
Research Interests & Expertise
Profile
With experience spanning both academic and industrial research and development projects, I have developed expertise in full field imaging, mechanics of composite materials, and experimental mechanics. Problem solving is my strongest attribute, where my diverse background has often provided a unique perspective on challenging problems.
I am passionate about ensuring my work is relevant to real world applications, which was key to the development of novel composite inspection methods and the submission of a patent during my PhD.
I am currently a Research Associate in experimental mechanics at the University of Bristol, but I searching for opportunities where I can apply the sum total industrial and academic experience to solve applied engineering challenges.
Software Skills
PhD Project
Funded by BAE Systems, the work focused on developing a framework and associated tools for evaluating the integrity of bonded joints for the Type 26 Royal Navy frigate. Three novel methods were conceived and developed to detect defects and damage in composite materials and bonded joints.
An important aspect of the project was the integration of full field imaging data with numerical models to obtain high fidelity digital representations of components. This allows for the study of defect criticality and cost effective assessments of the residual service life of a component. Key outcomes include:
- Novel post processing algorithm in Matlab for Pulse Thermography (available here), doubling probing depth thus extending its applicability to thicker composite laminates than was previous possible.
- Patent submitted for an integrated sacrificial sensor technology capable of detecting damage initiation and propagation in composites and bonded joints.
- Low cost thermographic inspection method based on lock-in thermography using internal heating. Combining lock-in processing in Matlab with low cost micro-bolometers and open source hardware, the capital costs of thermographic inspections are reduced by orders of magnitude, whilst maintaining performance traditionally associated with photon detectors.
- Integration of thermographic and Digital Image Correlation (DIC) obtained strain data, with numerical models (including failure) to provide a framework for assessment of defect criticality in composite materials and adhesively bonded joints. This required the development of a novel experimental setup for high resolution imaging of the longitudinal-transverse normal plane of single lap joint.
Publications
Ólafsson G., Tighe R. C., Barton-Dulieu J. M., (2018), ‘Improving the probing depth of thermographic inspections of polymer composite materials’, Measurement Science and Technology, 30 (2), pg 15. Available from: http://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6501/aaed15
Ólafsson G., Tighe R. C., Boyd S. W., Barton-Dulieu J. M., (2020), ‘Development of an integrated sacrificial sensor for damage detection and monitoring in composite materials and adhesively bonded joints’, Structural Health Monitoring. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1177/1475921721989041
Ólafsson G.,Tighe R.C., Boyd S. W., and Dulieu-Barton J. M., (2022) “Lock-in thermography using miniature infra-red cameras and integrated actuators for defect identification in composite materials,” Optics Laser Technology, 147. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optlastec.2021.107629
Nicholls-Lee, R., Thies, P.R., Dulieu-Barton, J.M., Ólafsson, G., Hughes, R., Hernandez Arroyo, A., Xu, G. and Cartlidge, N., “Non-destructive examination (NDE) methods for dynamic subsea cables for Offshore Renewable Energy”, Progress in Energy, 2022, 4, 042011. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1088/2516-1083/ac8ccb
Mitchell J.M., Dunster J.L., Kriek N., Unsworth A. J., Sage T., Mohammed Y. M. M., Taylor K. A., Bye A. P., Ólafsson G., Gibbins J. M., Jones C. I. (2023) “The Rate of Platelet Activation Determines Thrombus Size and Structure at Arterial Shear”, Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jtha.2023.03.044