OREANDA-NEWS. December 5, 2011. Tata Steel in association with the Jamshedpur Chapter of the Indian Institute of Metals organized a two-day International Conference on Non Destructive Evaluation for Steel and Allied Industries (NDESAI 2011), on 2nd-3rd December, 2011 at SNTI auditorium, Jamshedpur. More than 200 delegates from India and 12 delegates from abroad were present at the conference. Experts from India and abroad displayed presentations on the state of the art NDT techniques for application in the steel and allied industries, and presented 36 technical papers.

In a thought provoking presentation, Dr Baldev Raj who is an internationally renowned expert in NDE and formerly the Director, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (Kalpakkam), and presently the President of International Institute of Welding, explained the perspective and role of Nondestructive Testing and Evaluation (NDT &E) Techniques in the Industry. He further explained the advancements made in India in Metallurgy giving examples of the Iron Pillar of Delhi and the Wootz steel with complex layered structure, and indicated the roles of NDT &E that could have been used in such products. He made the prospective roles that would be made by NDE techniques to achieve Green Processing of Steels and virtual manufacturing.

Mr Baldev emphasized on the point that the best of the brains and the minds from Physics, Metallurgy, Mathematics, Electronics, Electrical, Mechanical  and other branches of Engineering should be brought to one forum and made to work in focused areas of the state of the art NDE techniques. He also emphasized on the importance of Academia on NDT & E – and even experts from such areas as Astronomy as Astronomy develops advanced techniques in signal analysis which are so much needed by NDT&E in order to detect and quantify minute sized defects so much required by the present day Designers. 

Dr Raj also gave an illuminating, educative and informative overview on the role of Nondestructive Evaluation on the achievement of six sigma qualities during every stage of the wide spectrum of plants and accessories in the Steel and Nuclear Industries. This, Dr Raj said was end-to-end management. Another important theme of the address was the importance of measurement, and the need of developments of sensors for more and more precise measurement of various parameters in NDT&E. This, Dr Raj said was first mooted by the renowned middle age Italian Scientist Galileo Galilee. He exemplified his themes through explanations of the application of techniques such as multi-frequency eddy current technique, remote field eddy current technique, thermography, magnetic Barkhausen Noise Analysis technique, advance ultrasonic techniques, and various robotic designs (including one having snake like movements for making access to otherwise unapproachable locations), laser scattering, intelligence welding etc

The Conference was inaugurated in a glittering ceremony. The welcome address was given by Mark Bernard Denys, co-chairman of the organizing committee and Chief, Research & Development and Scientific Services, Tata Steel.

The Guest of Honour, Mr Sanjiv Paul, Vice President, Corporate Services, Tata Steel put forth his remarks based on his experience on various aspects of Steel Production and explained how precise information on the conditions on flaw and defects inside a material or component improve the functioning of a plant. The objective, importance and the uniqueness of the Conference was lucidly explained by Dr S Tarafder, Chairman of the Jamshedpur Chapter of Indian Institute of Metals. 

Following the inaugural session, there were three technical sessions. Each session had one or two invited talks – the rest being contributory papers. The Important invited speakers were:

Prof Krishnan Balasubramaniam, Head, NDE Centre, IIT (Madras). He gave examples on the application of ultrasonic and eddy current techniques, in steel and other industries.

Dr Frenk van den Berg, Tata Steel R&D and Technology, Netherlands. He discussed on the application of RADAR techniques in continuous cast billets

Prof Helmu Wolff, Anna University, Chennai. He discussed on NDE controlled production in Steel Industry

Dr T Venugopalan, Tata Steel. He discussed on the role of NDE techniques to assess the surface conditions of Rolls used in the Rolling Mills of Tata Steel.

Dr B Venkatraman, Head, Quality Assurance Division, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (Kalpakkam). He discussed on the use of advanced ultrasonic and infra red thermography.

The contributory papers were presented by speakers from the University of Birmingham (UK), Czech Republic, RDCIS (Ranchi), Tata Tayo rolls, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, Indian Oil Corporation etc.