Dr. Eleanor Jay

Dr Eleanor Jay graduated with a 1st Class Masters Degree in Materials Science and Engineering from Imperial College London. As part of Eleanor’s first degree, she was employed at Industrial Research Limited in New Zealand (now Callaghan Innovation).

Her PhD work involved researching ceramic materials for nuclear fuel storage applications (requiring high temperature and pressure resistance). During this time, she worked closely with several nuclear establishments across the globe with whom she collaborated.

After completing her PhD, Eleanor was seconded to the Government Office for Science and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to be part of the Nuclear Energy Research and Development Review Board, chaired by the then Chief Scientist, Sir John Beddington.

The work was commissioned after the House of Lords published a critical report on the future of nuclear energy in the UK. She assessed the UK’s nuclear energy landscape, which involved close communication with stakeholders across the nuclear industry (including academia, industry and government departments).

Eleanor then took up a consultant position with Adelard LLP, who specialise in risk, security and safety analysis for a wide range of industries; defence, nuclear, rail and critical frameworks. Whilst at Adelard, she established a new specialist work area in hydraulic fracturing and spent time examining fractured engine blades from combat aircraft.

Eleanor is the Head of the Materials Group at Hawkins and is a Chartered Engineer, Chartered Scientist and Fellow of the IOM3 based in our Reigate office.

She specialises in investigations into incidents arising from materials failures worldwide, such as personal injuries, failure of structural and decorative components, escapes of water, fuels, heating oil and other fluids, in a variety of domestic, commercial and industrial premises.

Investigations can include post-fracture characterisation and examination, metallurgical testing, micro-structural analysis, corrosion studies, stress analysis, fractography and mechanical properties measurement of ceramics, glass, metals, polymers and composites.

For example, falls from height involving broken ladders and cracking of components on large biomass boilers (which involved taking metallographic replicas and other in situ measurements), to investigating the widespread failure of the same brass plumbing fittings in numerous locations in the British Isles. The work required further analysis of polymer components which were instrumental in the failure of the fittings. Systemic failure of ceramic mugs (produced en masse), degradation of ceramic tiling and substrate and failure of ceramic refractory bricks and roof tiles.

Corrosion studies involving badly degraded painted panels on refuse vehicles, damage to decorative, intumescent lacquered wooden panelling and other metallurgical failures involving larger components such as a substantial 85 MW biomass boiler and water treatment plants.

Water chemistry studies from domestic to commercial sites. Assessing corrosivity of water or lack thereof. Review of water chemistry against relevant standards.

She has also investigated failures of polymers, wood, composites, metals, ceramics, glass, plaster and structural concrete using a range of analytical techniques to guide and inform the investigation where necessary such as, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, optical emission spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, Micro CT and Raman spectroscopy.

Eleanor has authored articles for journals since 2010.

Imperial College, London - Materials for nuclear power applications, Imperial College, London - Material Science and Engineering, 1st Class, Diploma of Imperial College

FIMMM Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, ARSM Associate of Royal School of Mines, Fellow of the IOM3