Aluminum vs. carbon fiber racing chassis course
Online course of 300 hours in aluminium versus carbon fibre for racing chassis: 6 modules covering the requirements of a racing chassis, aluminium alloys and carbon fibre for chassis, comparative structural analysis, and manufacturing, cost and life cycle, with an assigned technical tutor.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Define the structural requirements of a racing chassis.
Know the aluminium alloys and their joining processes.
Understand the design and manufacture of carbon-fibre structures.
Compare solutions using selection indices and finite element analysis.
Evaluate the costs, manufacturing and life cycle of each material.
Apply multi-criteria methods to material selection.
Technically justify the choice of material for a chassis.
Who it's for
- Chassis engineers.
- Materials engineers.
- Structural analysis engineers.
- Racing vehicle designers.
- Composite manufacturing technicians.
- Product development engineers.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter motorsport.
What you'll work with
- UNE-EN 1999-1-1 (Eurocode 9: design of aluminium structures)
- UNE-EN 573-3 (Chemical composition of aluminium alloys)
- CMH-17 (Composite Materials Handbook)
- UNE-EN 485-2 (Aluminium sheet: mechanical properties)
- ASTM D3039 (Tensile properties of polymer matrix composites)
- ISO 14125 (Flexural properties of fibre-reinforced plastics)
- ISO 14040:2006 (Life cycle assessment)
- ANSYS Mechanical
- Altair HyperWorks
- Ansys Granta Selector
- CATIA V5
- LS-DYNA
6 modules
1.1Structural functions of the chassis1.2Torsional and bending stiffness1.3Mass and centre of gravity1.4Passive safety and impact1.5Technical regulations in motorsport1.6Typologies: tubular, monocoque and hybrid1.7Historical evolution of materials1.8Structural efficiency indicators1.9Manufacturing cost and lead time1.10Case study: evolution of the Formula 1 monocoque
2.15000, 6000 and 7000 series2.2Heat treatments and tempers2.3Extrusions and sheet2.4TIG and MIG welding of aluminium2.5Riveted and bonded joints2.6Aluminium honeycomb panels2.7Fatigue in aluminium structures2.8Corrosion and protection2.9Reparability of aluminium structures2.10Laboratory: analysis of a welded aluminium joint
3.1Specific properties of carbon fibre3.2Quasi-isotropic and oriented laminates3.3Sandwich structures with honeycomb core3.4Autoclave and out-of-autoclave manufacturing3.5Inserts and metallic joints3.6Energy absorption on impact3.7Damage tolerance3.8Reparability and replacement3.9Sustainability and recycling3.10Workshop: laminate design for a floor panel
4.1Specific stiffness and specific strength4.2Ashby indices for selection4.3Finite element models of chassis4.4Torsional stiffness analysis4.5Frontal impact simulation4.6Fatigue behaviour4.7Thermal sensitivity and expansion4.8Resulting mass per solution4.9Interpretation of results4.10Practical exercise: FEM comparison of two chassis variants
5.1Material and tooling costs5.2Manufacturing time per solution5.3Short runs versus medium runs5.4Quality control in manufacturing5.5Carbon footprint of each material5.6Recycling of aluminium and carbon5.7In-season maintenance and repair5.8Supply risks5.9Multi-criteria decision matrix5.10Case study: material decision for an endurance prototype
6.1Definition of requirements6.2Aluminium proposal6.3Carbon-fibre proposal6.4Comparative structural analysis6.5Cost and life-cycle analysis6.6Justified material decision6.7Sensitivity analysis6.8Technical conclusions of the study6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable materials, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so you can combine the programme with your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is ANSYS Mechanical, Altair HyperWorks, Ansys Granta Selector, CATIA V5 and LS-DYNA, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Cases are studied on real procedures: finite element comparison of the torsional stiffness of two chassis, material selection with Ashby indices and analysis of the cost and carbon footprint of the alternatives. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrating project.
Standards covered: UNE-EN 1999-1-1; UNE-EN 573-3; CMH-17; UNE-EN 485-2; ASTM D3039; ISO 14125; ISO 14040:2006.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior qualification is required.
- An internet connection and a computer able to run the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 300 hours over 3 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with ANSYS Mechanical, Altair HyperWorks, Ansys Granta Selector, CATIA V5 and LS-DYNA, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute certificate, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
No prior qualification is required: you only need an internet connection, a computer able to run the programme software and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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