CourseEnergy and Networks Enrolment open

Fatigue Course for Steel and Aluminium Hulls

Online 300-hour course in fatigue in steel and aluminium hulls. 6 modules covering IACS Common Structural Rules for Bulk Carriers and Oil Tankers, DNV-CG-0129 Fatigue assessment of ship structures and ANSYS Mechanical. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.

Duration300 h
ModeOnline
Start datesOctober / March
LocationEurope (Madrid)
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
Virtual lab · try it before you enrol

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Run a real engineering trade-off from this programme. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.

SIM · LIVE ●
Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Understand the fatigue mechanisms in welded joints.

02

Determine cyclic loads on the hull from sea conditions.

03

Apply the nominal stress and hot spot methods.

04

Calculate cumulative damage using S-N curves and Miner's rule.

05

Assess the particularities of fatigue in marine aluminium.

06

Propose detail improvements and post-weld treatment techniques.

07

Prepare in-service crack inspection plans.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Naval structures engineer seeking to specialise in fatigue in steel and aluminium hulls.
  • Fatigue and fracture analyst seeking to specialise in fatigue in steel and aluminium hulls.
  • Welding inspector seeking to specialise in fatigue in steel and aluminium hulls.
  • Classification society engineer seeking to specialise in fatigue in steel and aluminium hulls.
  • Structural integrity manager seeking to specialise in fatigue in steel and aluminium hulls.
  • Naval repair engineer seeking to specialise in fatigue in steel and aluminium hulls.
  • Graduates in engineering or science looking to enter shipyards.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • IACS Common Structural Rules for Bulk Carriers and Oil Tankers
  • DNV-CG-0129 Fatigue assessment of ship structures
  • IIW Recommendations for Fatigue Design of Welded Joints and Components
  • EN 1999-1-3 Eurocode 9: fatigue of aluminium structures
  • EN 1993-1-9 Eurocode 3: fatigue
  • BS 7910 Guide to methods for assessing the acceptability of flaws in metallic structures
  • ISO 10042 Welding: arc-welded joints in aluminium, quality levels
Syllabus

6 modules · 300 h

  1. 1.1Load cycles, stress range and R-ratio
  2. 1.2S-N curves and fatigue limit
  3. 1.3Crack initiation and propagation
  4. 1.4Effect of mean and residual stresses
  5. 1.5Stress concentration in structural details
  6. 1.6Influence of corrosion on fatigue life
  7. 1.7Differences in behaviour between steel and aluminium
  8. 1.8Low- and high-cycle fatigue
  9. 1.9Palmgren-Miner cumulative damage rule
  10. 1.10Case study: cumulative damage in a bulkhead detail
  1. 2.1Vertical bending moments in waves
  2. 2.2External and internal dynamic pressures
  3. 2.3Wave scatter diagrams and routes
  4. 2.4Long-term Weibull distribution
  5. 2.5Spectral analysis of fatigue loads
  6. 2.6Loading and ballast conditions
  7. 2.7Contribution of whipping to damage
  8. 2.8Loads on superstructure connections
  9. 2.9Thermal and refrigerated cargo loads
  10. 2.10Practice: stress spectrum of a frame
  1. 3.1Nominal stress method
  2. 3.2Hot spot stress method
  3. 3.3Effective notch stress
  4. 3.4Fracture mechanics and Paris law
  5. 3.5Finite element modelling of details
  6. 3.6Stress extrapolation at the weld
  7. 3.7IIW FAT classification of details
  8. 3.8Thickness correction factors
  9. 3.9Simplified and spectral assessment
  10. 3.10Laboratory: hot spot stress in a bracket using FEM
  1. 4.1Marine alloys 5083 and 6082
  2. 4.2Loss of strength in the heat-affected zone
  3. 4.3S-N curves for welded aluminium joints
  4. 4.4Eurocode 9 for aluminium fatigue
  5. 4.5Friction stir welding (FSW)
  6. 4.6Extruded profiles and joints in fast ferries
  7. 4.7Galvanic corrosion and sensitisation
  8. 4.8Crack repair in aluminium
  9. 4.9Mixed steel-aluminium joints
  10. 4.10Case study: fatigue life of an aluminium ferry
  1. 5.1Design of details with low stress concentration
  2. 5.2Weld toe grinding and TIG dressing
  3. 5.3Hammer peening and HFMI (high-frequency mechanical impact)
  4. 5.4Weld quality control
  5. 5.5Crack inspection by NDT
  6. 5.6Risk-based inspection plans
  7. 5.7Repair and reinforcement of cracked details
  8. 5.8Lessons from historical ship failures
  9. 5.9In-service stress monitoring
  10. 5.10Workshop: redesign of a reinforcement bracket
  1. 6.1Vessel and material selection
  2. 6.2Identification of critical details
  3. 6.3Definition of loads and wave spectrum
  4. 6.4Local finite element modelling
  5. 6.5Cumulative damage calculation
  6. 6.6Steel vs aluminium comparison
  7. 6.7Proposal for detail improvements
  8. 6.8In-service inspection plan
  9. 6.9Report and presentation
  10. 6.10Final review with the tutor
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

100% online training on the SEIUM Institute campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetable: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine the course with work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is ANSYS Mechanical, Femap with Simcenter Nastran, DNV Sesam, nCode DesignLife, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real assessment procedures for hot spot evaluation of welded details by finite elements, cumulative damage calculation with a wave spectrum, and crack inspection by non-destructive testing. Assessment is continuous per module plus the final integrating project.

Accreditable laboratories(EN ISO/IEC 17025) with a rotor test rig, EMC/Lightning pre-compliance, HIL/SIL, vibration/acoustics.
Evidence-oriented thesis:safety case, test plan, compliance dossier and operating limits.
Industry mentoring:lecturers with experience in training, , eVTOL/UAM and flight test.
Flexible format(hybrid/online), international cohorts and support from SEIUM Career Services.
Ethics and safety:safety-by-design approach, cyber-OT, DIH and compliance as pillars.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Vessel and material selection

Understand the fatigue mechanisms in welded joints.

Identification of critical details

Determine cyclic loads on the hull from sea conditions.

Definition of loads and wave spectrum

Apply the nominal stress and hot spot methods.

Local finite element modelling

Calculate cumulative damage using S-N curves and Miner's rule.

Cumulative damage calculation

Assess the particularities of fatigue in marine aluminium.

Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Naval structures engineerFatigue and fracture analystWelding inspectorClassification society engineerStructural integrity managerNaval repair engineer
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • No prior degree is required.
  • Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
  • Sufficient level of Spanish to follow the reading of technical standards.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 300 hours, spread over 3 to 5 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with a full-time job.

The course uses ANSYS Mechanical, Femap with Simcenter Nastran, DNV Sesam, nCode DesignLife. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.

A SEIUM Institute own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official Ministry qualification.

Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised towards the higher programme. Check the recognition policy when enrolling.

Fatigue Course for Steel and Aluminium HullsEnrol
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