Master'sHealth, Biomechanics, Wearables & Operational Safety Applications open

Master’s in Human Vibration, Shock and Fatigue Engineering

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in vibration, shock and human fatigue engineering: 12 modules covering vibrating system dynamics, human response to vibration, whole-body and hand–arm vibration, instrumentation, shock and impact on the body, material and structural fatigue, human fatigue, vibration control, simulation and vibration risk management, with ISO 2631-1, ISO 5349-1 and MATLAB and Simulink, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration1900 h
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Analyse the dynamics of vibrating systems and human response.

02

Assess whole-body and hand–arm vibration exposure according to ISO.

03

Measure vibration with calibrated instrumentation and estimate its uncertainty.

04

Evaluate the effects of repeated shocks on the human body.

05

Calculate the fatigue life of components using cycle-counting methods.

06

Design vibration isolation and control measures.

07

Prepare vibration risk management plans in line with Directive 2002/44/EC.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Vibration and comfort engineers.
  • Occupational risk prevention technicians specialising in physical agents.
  • Seat and suspension engineers.
  • Structural fatigue analysts.
  • Human biodynamics researchers.
  • Durability test engineers.
  • Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the automotive and industrial vehicle sector.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • ISO 2631-1 (evaluation of whole-body vibration)
  • ISO 5349-1 (measurement and evaluation of hand-transmitted vibration)
  • Directive 2002/44/EC (minimum health and safety requirements for exposure to vibration)
  • Royal Decree 1311/2005 (Spanish regulation on mechanical vibration at work)
  • ISO 8041-1 (human response to vibration: measuring instrumentation)
  • ISO 10819 (anti-vibration gloves)
  • ISO 2631-5 (evaluation of vibration containing multiple shocks)
  • EN ISO 20643 (vibration emission of hand-held and hand-guided machinery)
  • MATLAB and Simulink
  • nCode DesignLife
  • Siemens Simcenter Testlab
  • ANSYS Mechanical
  • Adams
Syllabus

12 modules · 1900 h

  1. 1.1Single-degree-of-freedom systems
  2. 1.2Viscous and hysteretic damping
  3. 1.3Forced response and resonance
  4. 1.4Multi-degree-of-freedom systems
  5. 1.5Experimental modal analysis
  6. 1.6Frequency response functions
  7. 1.7Transmissibility and isolation
  8. 1.8Random vibration and spectral density
  9. 1.9Non-linear systems and Coulomb damping
  10. 1.10Practical: transmissibility of a seat
  1. 2.1Biodynamic models of the human body
  2. 2.2Apparent mass and mechanical impedance
  3. 2.3Trunk and head resonances
  4. 2.4Seat-to-head transmissibility
  5. 2.5Effects on vision and manual control
  6. 2.6Comfort and perception of vibration
  7. 2.7Motion sickness and low frequencies
  8. 2.8Differences between subjects and postures
  9. 2.9ISO 5982 biodynamic databases
  10. 2.10Lab: measuring seated apparent mass
  1. 3.1ISO 2631-1 exposure assessment
  2. 3.2Wd and Wk frequency weightings
  3. 3.3A(8) value and vibration dose value (VDV)
  4. 3.4Directive 2002/44/EC and limit values
  5. 3.5Royal Decree 1311/2005 in Spain
  6. 3.6Vibration in mobile machinery and vehicles
  7. 3.7Repeated shocks and ISO 2631-5
  8. 3.8Design of suspension seats
  9. 3.9Vibration in trains, buses and trams
  10. 3.10Case study: exposure of a dumper truck driver
  1. 4.1ISO 5349-1 and 5349-2
  2. 4.2Hand–arm vibration syndrome
  3. 4.3Vibration-induced Raynaud's phenomenon
  4. 4.4Pneumatic and electric tools
  5. 4.5Emission declaration under EN ISO 20643
  6. 4.6Anti-vibration gloves and ISO 10819
  7. 4.7Tool maintenance and vibration reduction
  8. 4.8Health surveillance of exposed workers
  9. 4.9Low-vibration tools and handle design
  10. 4.10Practical: triaxial measurement on an angle grinder
  1. 5.1Piezoelectric and MEMS accelerometers
  2. 5.2SAE pad seat adaptors
  3. 5.3Handle mounting and fixing
  4. 5.4ISO 8041-1 human vibration meters
  5. 5.5Calibration and metrological traceability
  6. 5.6Digital processing and weighting filters
  7. 5.7Uncertainty in field measurements
  8. 5.8Continuous recording with dosimeters
  9. 5.9Spectral analysis of field recordings
  10. 5.10Lab: measurement chain and calibration
  1. 6.1Shock pulses and shock response spectrum
  2. 6.2Human tolerance to acceleration
  3. 6.3The Eiban diagram and orientation
  4. 6.4Vertical shock in high-speed craft
  5. 6.5Impact in aircraft seats
  6. 6.6Lumbar injuries from repeated shocks
  7. 6.7Shock attenuation with dampers
  8. 6.8Impact sled testing
  9. 6.9Shock in landings and off-road vehicles
  10. 6.10Case study: shock-mitigating seat for a high-speed boat
  1. 7.1S-N curves and fatigue limit
  2. 7.2Cumulative damage according to Miner's rule
  3. 7.3Rainflow cycle counting
  4. 7.4Frequency-domain fatigue
  5. 7.5Effect of mean stress
  6. 7.6Welded joints and structural details
  7. 7.7Accelerated fatigue testing
  8. 7.8Fracture mechanics and crack growth
  9. 7.9Random vibration fatigue and the Dirlik method
  10. 7.10Practical: fatigue life of a seat frame
  1. 8.1Localised muscle fatigue due to vibration
  2. 8.2Fatigue in prolonged driving
  3. 8.3Interaction between vibration, posture and load
  4. 8.4Physiological indicators of fatigue
  5. 8.5Vigilance and reaction times
  6. 8.6Shifts and cumulative exposure
  7. 8.7Combined effects with noise
  8. 8.8Subjective assessment of discomfort
  9. 8.9Individual sensitivity and susceptibility factors
  10. 8.10Lab: EMG fatigue under vertical vibration
  1. 9.1Passive isolation and suspensions
  2. 9.2Semi-active and magnetorheological suspensions
  3. 9.3Active vibration control
  4. 9.4Tuned dynamic absorbers
  5. 9.5Elastomers and anti-vibration mounts
  6. 9.6Design of cabs and platforms
  7. 9.7Organisational reduction strategies
  8. 9.8Selection of low-emission equipment
  9. 9.9Air suspension seats and EN 13490
  10. 9.10Workshop: designing a tuned absorber
  1. 10.1Human–seat multibody models
  2. 10.2Finite elements in vibration analysis
  3. 10.3Simulation of exposure over a work cycle
  4. 10.4Identification of biodynamic parameters
  5. 10.5Structural fatigue simulation
  6. 10.6Co-simulation with controllers
  7. 10.7Validation with field measurements
  8. 10.8Suspension optimisation
  9. 10.9Digital twin of vibration exposure
  10. 10.10Practical: human–seat model in Simulink
  1. 11.1Risk assessment and action plan
  2. 11.2Exposure estimation with databases
  3. 11.3Worker information and training
  4. 11.4Machinery purchasing and emission declarations
  5. 11.5Directive 2006/42/EC and emissions
  6. 11.6Medical surveillance programmes
  7. 11.7Indicators and audits
  8. 11.8Communicating risk to management
  9. 11.9Coordination of business activities and subcontractors
  10. 11.10Case study: control plan on a civil works site
  1. 12.1Definition of the exposure scenario
  2. 12.2Regulatory and technical review
  3. 12.3Field measurement campaign
  4. 12.4Exposure and fatigue analysis
  5. 12.5Modelling the vibrating system
  6. 12.6Proposal of control measures
  7. 12.7Validation and estimation of reduction
  8. 12.8Risk management plan
  9. 12.9Master's Thesis report
  10. 12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so it is compatible with work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is MATLAB and Simulink, nCode DesignLife, Siemens Simcenter Testlab, ANSYS Mechanical and Adams, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures for vibration measurements on construction machinery, seat transmissibility tests on a shaker table and fatigue analysis of structural components. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.

Standards covered: ISO 2631-1, ISO 5349-1, Directive 2002/44/EC, Royal Decree 1311/2005, ISO 8041-1, ISO 10819, ISO 2631-5, EN ISO 20643.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of ISO 2631-1, ISO 5349-1 and Directive 2002/44/EC applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:MATLAB and Simulink, nCode DesignLife, Siemens Simcenter Testlab, ANSYS Mechanical and Adams, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Master's Thesis with defence:A complete vibration exposure study, from field measurement campaign and exposure and fatigue analysis to system modelling, control measures and risk management plan, defended before a panel.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

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

Exposure scenario
Define the exposure scenario and review the applicable regulations and technical background.
Field measurements
Run a field measurement campaign with calibrated instrumentation under ISO 2631-1 and ISO 5349-1.
Exposure and fatigue analysis
Analyse vibration exposure and structural fatigue using rainflow counting and Miner's rule.
Modelling and control
Model the vibrating system and propose isolation and control measures with estimated reduction.
Master's Thesis
Present the risk management plan and validated results, defended before a panel.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Vibration and comfort engineerPrevention technician specialising in physical agentsSeat and suspension engineerStructural fatigue analystHuman biodynamics researcherDurability test engineer
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
  • An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's 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.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with MATLAB and Simulink, nCode DesignLife, Siemens Simcenter Testlab, ANSYS Mechanical and Adams, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.

A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the Master's Thesis. 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 in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

A university degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a computer able to run the programme's 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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