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CourseOff-Road, Special Vehicles & Machinery Applications open

Fundamentals of Terramechanics Course

300-hour online course in fundamentals of terramechanics. 6 modules covering ASABE S313 (cone penetrometer for soils), ASABE EP542 (cone penetrometer operating procedure) and MSC Adams. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.

Duration300 h
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute certificate
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Explain the object of study of terramechanics.

02

Characterise the mechanical properties of terrain.

03

Apply the Bekker and Wong models to rigid and deformable wheels.

04

Analyse the interaction between tracks and terrain.

05

Evaluate the mobility of the complete vehicle.

06

Design tests and simulations of vehicle-terrain interaction.

07

Develop a mobility study in a final project.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Terramechanics engineer looking to specialise in Fundamentals of Terramechanics.
  • Vehicle mobility engineer looking to specialise in Fundamentals of Terramechanics.
  • Researcher in vehicle-terrain interaction looking to specialise in Fundamentals of Terramechanics.
  • Tyre and track engineer looking to specialise in Fundamentals of Terramechanics.
  • Multibody simulation engineer looking to specialise in Fundamentals of Terramechanics.
  • Agricultural machinery engineer looking to specialise in Fundamentals of Terramechanics.
  • Engineering or science graduates looking to enter off-road machinery manufacturing.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • ASABE S313 (cone penetrometer for soils)
  • ASABE EP542 (cone penetrometer operating procedure)
  • ISO 17892-10 (direct shear test)
  • ISO 22476-1 (cone penetration test)
  • ISO 14688-1 (soil identification)
  • ASTM D2487 (unified soil classification)
  • EN 1997 (Eurocode 7, geotechnical design)
Syllabus

6 modules · 300 h

  1. 1.1Machine-terrain interaction
  2. 1.2Origin and development of the discipline
  3. 1.3Applications in agriculture, construction and space
  4. 1.4Fundamental quantities
  5. 1.5Units and conventions
  6. 1.6Soil as an engineering material
  7. 1.7Soil classification for mobility
  8. 1.8Limitations of the theoretical approach
  9. 1.9Reference bibliography
  10. 1.10Workshop: formulating a mobility problem
  1. 2.1Cohesion and angle of internal friction
  2. 2.2Moisture, density and plasticity
  3. 2.3Pressure-sinkage relationship
  4. 2.4Soil deformation moduli
  5. 2.5Shear strength
  6. 2.6Behaviour under repeated loading
  7. 2.7Layered soils
  8. 2.8Effect of vegetation and stubble
  9. 2.9Characterisation tests
  10. 2.10Practice: characterising a sample
  1. 3.1Contact patch and its geometry
  2. 3.2Pressure distribution under the wheel
  3. 3.3Sinkage and rolling resistance
  4. 3.4Generation of traction
  5. 3.5Traction-slip relationship
  6. 3.6Effect of inflation pressure
  7. 3.7Rigid wheel versus deformable wheel
  8. 3.8Driven wheel and towed wheel
  9. 3.9Resistance from tyre deformation
  10. 3.10Practice: calculation for a wheel
  1. 4.1Pressure distribution under the track
  2. 4.2Contact length and width
  3. 4.3Generation of traction in tracks
  4. 4.4Resistance to track motion
  5. 4.5Steering and steering resistance
  6. 4.6Effect of track tension
  7. 4.7Grousers and their contribution
  8. 4.8Sinkage and flotation
  9. 4.9Comparison with the wheel
  10. 4.10Practice: calculation for a track
  1. 5.1Load distribution between axles
  2. 5.2Load transfer under traction
  3. 5.3Obstacle-crossing capability
  4. 5.4Fording and gradeability capability
  5. 5.5Mobility indices
  6. 5.6Prediction of achievable speed
  7. 5.7Energy consumption associated with mobility
  8. 5.8Mobility across multiple wheel passes
  9. 5.9Available calculation tools
  10. 5.10Practice: mobility assessment of a vehicle
  1. 6.1Soil bin tests
  2. 6.2Standardised field tests
  3. 6.3Discrete and finite element models
  4. 6.4Multibody simulation with soil
  5. 6.5Validation and calibration
  6. 6.6Uncertainty and sensitivity
  7. 6.7Application to machine design
  8. 6.8Planetary terramechanics: particularities
  9. 6.9Dissemination and publication of results
  10. 6.10Final project: complete terramechanics study
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

Fully 100 % online training on the SEIUM 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 study with work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is MSC Adams, MATLAB, Altair EDEM, Chrono (Project Chrono), Python (numpy), in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real testing procedures with bevameter and penetrometer, soil bin for wheels and tracks, and vehicle mobility simulation. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrating project.

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

Build it end to end

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

Soil bin tests

Explain the object of study of terramechanics.

Standardised field tests

Characterise the mechanical properties of terrain.

Discrete and finite element models

Apply the Bekker and Wong models to rigid and deformable wheels.

Multibody simulation with soil

Analyse the interaction between tracks and terrain.

Validation and calibration

Evaluate the mobility of the complete vehicle.

Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Terramechanics engineerVehicle mobility engineerResearcher in vehicle-terrain interactionTyre and track engineerMultibody simulation engineerAgricultural machinery engineer
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

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

Ready to start?

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

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

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

You will work with MSC Adams, MATLAB, Altair EDEM, Chrono (Project Chrono), Python (numpy). Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.

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

Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area can be credited towards the advanced programme. Please check the credit recognition policy when you enrol.

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