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Master'sOff-Road, Special Vehicles & Machinery Applications open

Master’s in Off-Road Structural Durability and Fatigue Engineering

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in off-road structural durability and fatigue engineering. 12 modules covering fatigue mechanisms, service loads, welded joint fatigue, fracture mechanics, FE fatigue analysis, structural dynamics, durability testing, materials, probabilistic reliability, in-service life monitoring and Eurocode 3 Part 1-9, 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

Apply fatigue fundamentals to off-road structures.

02

Measure and process service loads.

03

Assess the fatigue of welded joints with standardised methods.

04

Apply fracture mechanics to cracked structures.

05

Perform fatigue analysis by finite elements.

06

Plan accelerated durability tests.

07

Estimate the residual life of structures in service.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Durability engineers.
  • Fatigue analysis engineers.
  • Structural test engineers.
  • Welded joint specialists.
  • Structural integrity engineers.
  • Reliability analysts.
  • Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the construction machinery sector.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • UNE-EN 1993-1-9 (Eurocode 3, fatigue)
  • IIW Recommendations (fatigue of welded joints)
  • BS 7910 (assessment of flaws)
  • UNE-EN ISO 5817 (weld quality levels)
  • ASTM E1049 (cycle counting)
  • ASTM E647 (fatigue crack growth rates)
  • UNE-EN 13001-3-1 (crane design)
  • HBK nCode DesignLife
  • Ansys Mechanical
  • Simcenter Testlab
  • Altair HyperWorks
  • MSC Adams
Syllabus

12 modules · 1900 h

  1. 1.1Crack initiation and propagation
  2. 1.2S-N curves and fatigue limit
  3. 1.3Effect of mean stress
  4. 1.4Goodman and Gerber diagrams
  5. 1.5Stress concentration
  6. 1.6Effect of surface finish and size
  7. 1.7Low-cycle fatigue and e-N curves
  8. 1.8Cumulative damage and Miner's rule
  9. 1.9Multiaxial fatigue: introduction
  10. 1.10Case study: fatigue fracture of an arm
  1. 2.1Planning load data acquisition
  2. 2.2Strain gauges and bridges
  3. 2.3Wheel force transducers
  4. 2.4Classification of load events
  5. 2.5Rainflow cycle counting
  6. 2.6Load matrices and spectra
  7. 2.7Extrapolation to design life
  8. 2.8Customer usage profiles
  9. 2.9Signal editing and compression
  10. 2.10Laboratory: load measurement with strain gauges
  1. 3.1Fatigue behaviour of welds
  2. 3.2FAT detail classes
  3. 3.3IIW recommendations
  4. 3.4Eurocode 3, Part 1-9
  5. 3.5Nominal stress method
  6. 3.6Hot-spot stress method
  7. 3.7Effective notch stress method
  8. 3.8Post-weld improvement by hammer peening
  9. 3.9Influence of weld quality
  10. 3.10Practical exercise: verification with FAT classes
  1. 4.1Stress intensity factor
  2. 4.2Fracture toughness
  3. 4.3Paris crack growth law
  4. 4.4Crack growth under variable amplitude
  5. 4.5Damage tolerance philosophy
  6. 4.6Inspection intervals
  7. 4.7Flaw assessment to BS 7910
  8. 4.8Manufacturing defects in welds
  9. 4.9Residual life of cracked structures
  10. 4.10Laboratory: crack growth calculation
  1. 5.1Modelling welded structures
  2. 5.2Meshing for fatigue
  3. 5.3Application of service loads
  4. 5.4Superposition of unit load cases
  5. 5.5Transient load analysis
  6. 5.6Multiaxial fatigue criteria
  7. 5.7Fatigue software
  8. 5.8Post-processing and damage maps
  9. 5.9Validation with tests
  10. 5.10Practical exercise: FEM fatigue of a frame
  1. 6.1Numerical modal analysis
  2. 6.2Frequency response functions
  3. 6.3Response to random vibration
  4. 6.4Flexible bodies in multibody simulation
  5. 6.5Dynamic impact loads
  6. 6.6Avoiding resonances in service
  7. 6.7Structural stiffness and mass
  8. 6.8Design against vibration
  9. 6.9Structural vibration testing
  10. 6.10Laboratory: impact hammer modal analysis
  1. 7.1Servo-hydraulic multiaxial rigs
  2. 7.2Road and terrain simulators
  3. 7.3Isolated component tests
  4. 7.4Test acceleration by signal editing
  5. 7.5Removal of non-damaging cycles
  6. 7.6Durability test tracks
  7. 7.7Field tests with customers
  8. 7.8Acceptance criteria
  9. 7.9Test reports
  10. 7.10Practical exercise: accelerated test plan
  1. 8.1S355 and S690 structural steels
  2. 8.2High-strength steels
  3. 8.3Ductile cast iron in components
  4. 8.4Structural aluminium alloys
  5. 8.5Fatigue properties of materials
  6. 8.6Characterisation tests
  7. 8.7Surface treatments and shot peening
  8. 8.8Material selection for durability
  9. 8.9Costs and availability
  10. 8.10Case study: substitution with high-strength steel
  1. 9.1Principles of fatigue design
  2. 9.2Favourable construction details
  3. 9.3Stiffness transitions
  4. 9.4Weld placement
  5. 9.5Bolted joints under fatigue
  6. 9.6Topology optimisation of brackets
  7. 9.7Weight reduction without loss of life
  8. 9.8Design reviews
  9. 9.9Lessons learned from the field
  10. 9.10Case study: redesign of a welded detail
  1. 10.1Scatter in fatigue results
  2. 10.2Weibull distribution in fatigue
  3. 10.3Probability of failure
  4. 10.4Partial safety factors
  5. 10.5Confidence levels
  6. 10.6Test sample size
  7. 10.7Load-strength interference
  8. 10.8Monte Carlo simulation
  9. 10.9Design decisions
  10. 10.10Practical exercise: probabilistic life analysis
  1. 11.1Structural digital twin
  2. 11.2Permanent strain sensors
  3. 11.3Real-time damage estimation
  4. 11.4Telematics for durability
  5. 11.5Risk-based inspection
  6. 11.6Structural maintenance planning
  7. 11.7Machine life extension
  8. 11.8Cases in mining and cranes
  9. 11.9Retirement or repair decisions
  10. 11.10Case study: residual life of a boom
  1. 12.1Selection of the structure
  2. 12.2Measurement or estimation of loads
  3. 12.3Finite element model
  4. 12.4Fatigue assessment of welds
  5. 12.5Fracture mechanics analysis
  6. 12.6Redesign proposal
  7. 12.7Test plan
  8. 12.8Probabilistic life analysis
  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 each intake, so the programme fits around your job.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is HBK nCode DesignLife, Ansys Mechanical, Simcenter Testlab, Altair HyperWorks and MSC Adams, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: load acquisition with strain gauges, fatigue tests on servo-hydraulic rigs and experimental modal analysis. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final Master's Thesis.

Standards covered: UNE-EN 1993-1-9 (Eurocode 3), IIW Recommendations, BS 7910, UNE-EN ISO 5817, ASTM E1049, ASTM E647, UNE-EN 13001-3-1.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of UNE-EN 1993-1-9 (Eurocode 3), the IIW Recommendations and BS 7910 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:HBK nCode DesignLife, Ansys Mechanical, Simcenter Testlab, Altair HyperWorks and MSC Adams, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Master's Thesis with defence:A full durability and fatigue assessment of a real off-road structure, 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.

Structure and loads
Select the structure and measure or estimate its service loads.
FE model and weld fatigue
Build the finite element model and assess the fatigue of its welds.
Fracture mechanics
Analyse crack growth and residual life with fracture mechanics.
Redesign and test plan
Propose a redesign and plan the durability tests.
Master's Thesis
Probabilistic life analysis and full assessment report, defended before a panel.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Durability EngineerFatigue Analysis EngineerStructural Test EngineerWelded Joint SpecialistStructural Integrity EngineerReliability Analyst
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 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.

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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 HBK nCode DesignLife, Ansys Mechanical, Simcenter Testlab, Altair HyperWorks and MSC 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 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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