Utrata’s primary work emphasis is on tackling inspection challenges for various manufacturers, striving to achieve a suitable balance between knowledge of research capabilities and pragmatic industrial constraints. Of particular interest currently is the application of nondestructive inspection methodology to “non-traditional” industries for the field, such as biorenewables and biocomposites.

Utrata has worked with scientists from NASA’s Langley Research Center to apply novel nondestructive techniques to the measurement of residual stresses in railroad wheels and rail. Other activities included the organization of a spot weld inspection program that involved several industrial clients and culminated in a symposium following the two-year study, with public distribution of results. Utrata also co-organized the first Metal Powder Industries Federation symposium dedicated solely to the nondestructive inspection of powder metallurgy components. Additional activities included participation in project work funded by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Midwest Forensics Research Center to apply ultrasonic and magnetic techniques for the recovery of obliterated serial numbers.