Nathan IDA
Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, The University of Akron, USA
Research interests:
computational electromagnetics, nondestructive evaluation of materials, wave propagation in materials, scattering antennas, electromagnetic compatibility, computer algorithms and computer methods
Keynote address:
NDE 4.0: Testing and Evaluation in the Digital Ecosystem
Abstract:
The concept of the "Fourth industrial revolution - Industry 4.0" was introduced in 2011 as a follow up of previous developments, but one that is uniquely anchored in the cyber-physical concept. As such, it relies on the concepts of information, digitization, digitalization, and networking as well as digital twins, semantic interoperability and all that these entail including placing value and costs of information at the forefront. As a consequence of industry moving into the cyber-physical space, the tightly linked nondestructive evaluation of materials and components had to adapt to these changes through a series of developments dubbed NDE 4.0. This work discusses the various development in NDE from testing to personnel training needed to adapt to the new era of testing whereby physical testing of a product is not sufficient. There is a need to test and evaluate over the lifespan of products as well as to develop new procedures and methods that can be adapted to custom products such as those produced by 3D printing. NDE becomes integrated into the production process, providing both feedback and feedforward loops to the industrial processes.
Nathan IDA is Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at The University of Akron in Akron, Ohio. His research work encompasses the broad aspects of computational electromagnetics where he has contributed to both understanding of the interaction of electromagnetic fields with materials and to the development of new methods and tools for numerical modeling and simulation for, and beyond. An important part of this work is in electromagnetic nondestructive testing and evaluation of materials at low and microwave frequencies with particular emphasis on theoretical issues, on all aspects of modeling and simulation and on related issues stemming from research in NDE including sensors and applications. Other areas of current interest include electromagnetic wave propagation, theoretical issues in computation, as well as in communications and sensing. Much of this work has found its way into practice through industrial relations and consulting across industries as diverse as power generation, polymers, steel, medical and software. Dr. Ida has published extensively on electromagnetic field computation, nondestructive testing of materials, surface impedance boundary conditions, sensing and others, in over 400 publications. He has written 12 books including two on computation of electromagnetic fields (one in its second edition) one on modeling for nondestructive testing, one on nondestructive testing with microwaves, a textbook on engineering electromagnetics, now in its fourth edition, a textbook on sensing and actuation (now in its second edition) a book on the theory and applications of surface impedance boundary conditions and others including on ground penetrating radar and industrial sensing based on microwaves.
Current interests also include work on NDE 4.0 and, in particular on the advancement of NDE into the digital age. Dr. Ida is a Life Fellow of the Institute of Electric and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), a Fellow of the American Society of Nondestructive Testing (ASNT), a Fellow of the Applied Computational Electromagnetics Society (ACES) and a Fellow of the Institute of Electronics and Technology (IET). Dr. Ida teaches Electromagnetics, Antenna Theory, Electromagnetic Compatibility, Sensing and Actuation as well as Computational Methods and Algorithms.
Current interests also include work on NDE 4.0 and, in particular on the advancement of NDE into the digital age. Dr. Ida is a Life Fellow of the Institute of Electric and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), a Fellow of the American Society of Nondestructive Testing (ASNT), a Fellow of the Applied Computational Electromagnetics Society (ACES) and a Fellow of the Institute of Electronics and Technology (IET). Dr. Ida teaches Electromagnetics, Antenna Theory, Electromagnetic Compatibility, Sensing and Actuation as well as Computational Methods and Algorithms.
