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Master’s in Thermodynamics in Motorsport Engineering (Radiators, Ducting, Brake Cooling)

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in motorsport thermodynamics engineering (radiators, ducting, brake cooling): 12 modules covering heat transfer, radiators and heat exchangers, ducting, brake and tyre cooling, combustion-engine and hybrid/electric thermal management, thermal CFD and track data correlation, with an assigned technical tutor.

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

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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Analyse the thermal balance of a racing car.

02

Apply heat transfer to component design.

03

Size radiators, heat exchangers and ducts.

04

Design brake cooling and tyre thermal management.

05

Manage the thermal behaviour of hybrid and electric systems.

06

Simulate cooling using CFD and 1D models.

07

Correlate simulation with track data.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Thermal management engineers in motorsport or high-performance automotive.
  • Thermal CFD engineers looking to apply their skills to racing cars.
  • Engine cooling engineers moving into competition powertrains.
  • Brake engineers who need a deeper grasp of brake and tyre thermal behaviour.
  • Track data engineers working with temperature telemetry.
  • Hybrid systems engineers dealing with battery and e-motor cooling.
  • Engineering or science graduates looking to break into motorsport.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • FIA Formula 1 Technical Regulations (technical rules for F1 cars)
  • Appendix J to the FIA International Sporting Code (technical rules for competition vehicles)
  • Formula E Technical Regulations (technical rules for electric single-seaters)
  • SAE J1393 (heat exchanger testing)
  • ISO 6976 (calculation of calorific values and density of natural gas)
  • FIA GT3 Technical Regulations (technical rules for GT3 cars)
  • SAE J2723 (engine coolant pump and system performance)
  • GT-SUITE
  • Simcenter Star-CCM+
  • OpenFOAM
  • MATLAB/Simulink
  • MoTeC i2
Syllabus

12 modules · 1900 h

  1. 1.1. Heat sources in a racing car
  2. 1.2. Energy balance of the engine and drivetrain
  3. 1.3. Thermal requirements of brakes and tyres
  4. 1.4. The cooling–aerodynamics trade-off
  5. 1.5. FIA technical regulations and their influence
  6. 1.6. Hybrid power units
  7. 1.7. Electric racing vehicles
  8. 1.8. Thermal design tools
  9. 1.9. Track data and validation
  10. 1.10. Case study: thermal balance of a GT3 car
  1. 2.1. First and second laws applied
  2. 2.2. Conduction in solids
  3. 2.3. Forced and natural convection
  4. 2.4. Thermal radiation
  5. 2.5. Dimensionless numbers
  6. 2.6. Heat transfer correlations
  7. 2.7. Thermal transients
  8. 2.8. Thermal resistances
  9. 2.9. Fin analysis
  10. 2.10. Lab: transient thermal model in Python
  1. 3.1. Types of heat exchangers in racing
  2. 3.2. The ε-NTU method
  3. 3.3. Design of finned cores
  4. 3.4. Air-side pressure drop
  5. 3.5. Water and oil radiators
  6. 3.6. Air-to-air and air-to-water intercoolers
  7. 3.7. Materials and manufacturing
  8. 3.8. Size optimisation
  9. 3.9. Bench testing
  10. 3.10. Practical: sizing a radiator with ε-NTU
  1. 4.1. Air intake design
  2. 4.2. Diffusers and ducts
  3. 4.3. Duct losses
  4. 4.4. Pressure recovery
  5. 4.5. Air outlets and aerodynamic effect
  6. 4.6. Integration into the bodywork
  7. 4.7. 1D calculations of flow networks
  8. 4.8. Internal-flow CFD
  9. 4.9. Wind tunnel validation
  10. 4.10. Lab: CFD of a radiator duct with OpenFOAM
  1. 5.1. Heat generation under braking
  2. 5.2. Carbon-carbon and iron discs
  3. 5.3. Operating temperatures
  4. 5.4. Brake duct design
  5. 5.5. Disc ventilation
  6. 5.6. Heat transfer to callipers and wheels
  7. 5.7. Thermal modelling of brakes
  8. 5.8. Brake temperature telemetry
  9. 5.9. Strategic brake management
  10. 5.10. Case study: brake cooling on a street circuit
  1. 6.1. Tyre temperature and grip
  2. 6.2. Tyre blankets and their regulation
  3. 6.3. Heat generation through hysteresis
  4. 6.4. Heat transfer to the air and the track surface
  5. 6.5. Heat from the brakes into the wheel rim
  6. 6.6. Tyre thermal models
  7. 6.7. Infrared measurements
  8. 6.8. Warm-up strategies
  9. 6.9. Influence of the set-up
  10. 6.10. Practical: three-node tyre thermal model
  1. 7.1. Engine cooling circuits
  2. 7.2. Pumps and thermostats
  3. 7.3. Oil cooling
  4. 7.4. Dry sump
  5. 7.5. Thermal management during warm-up
  6. 7.6. Cylinder head temperatures
  7. 7.7. Turbocharger cooling
  8. 7.8. Efficiency optimisation
  9. 7.9. 1D simulation with GT-SUITE
  10. 7.10. Lab: cooling circuit model in GT-SUITE
  1. 8.1. High-power batteries and their temperature
  2. 8.2. Cell cooling
  3. 8.3. Electric motors and their cooling
  4. 8.4. Power electronics
  5. 8.5. MGU-K systems
  6. 8.6. Dielectric coolants
  7. 8.7. Formula E regulations
  8. 8.8. Energy management strategies
  9. 8.9. Electrothermal modelling
  10. 8.10. Practical: battery thermal model in Simulink
  1. 9.1. Meshing of thermal components
  2. 9.2. Turbulence models
  3. 9.3. Conjugate heat transfer
  4. 9.4. Porous-media models for radiators
  5. 9.5. Full-vehicle simulation
  6. 9.6. Transient simulations
  7. 9.7. Post-processing
  8. 9.8. Validation against data
  9. 9.9. Regulatory restrictions on CFD
  10. 9.10. Lab: conjugate simulation in Star-CCM+
  1. 10.1. Temperature and pressure sensors
  2. 10.2. Real-time telemetry
  3. 10.3. Thermal data analysis
  4. 10.4. Dynamometer testing
  5. 10.5. Wind tunnel testing
  6. 10.6. Simulation–track correlation
  7. 10.7. MoTeC and ATLAS analysis tools
  8. 10.8. Thermal indicators
  9. 10.9. Race-time decision-making
  10. 10.10. Case study: thermal correlation of a race weekend
  1. 11.1. Design trade-offs
  2. 11.2. Multi-objective optimisation
  3. 11.3. Weight and packaging
  4. 11.4. Component manufacturing
  5. 11.5. Reliability
  6. 11.6. Category regulations
  7. 11.7. Sustainable fuels and their thermal effect
  8. 11.8. Cost cap and development
  9. 11.9. Lessons from teams
  10. 11.10. Workshop: optimisation of the cooling package
  1. 12.1. Definition of the vehicle and category
  2. 12.2. Thermal requirements
  3. 12.3. Cooling system design
  4. 12.4. 1D simulation
  5. 12.5. CFD simulation
  6. 12.6. Test plan
  7. 12.7. Assessment of the aerodynamic trade-off
  8. 12.8. Conclusions
  9. 12.9. Master's Thesis report
  10. 12.10. Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

The programme is 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so it can be combined with your job.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is GT-SUITE, Simcenter Star-CCM+, OpenFOAM, MATLAB/Simulink and MoTeC i2, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for sizing radiators and heat exchangers, CFD simulation of internal flow and conjugate heat transfer, and correlation of thermal track data. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.

Standards covered: FIA Formula 1 Technical Regulations, Appendix J to the FIA International Sporting Code, Formula E Technical Regulations, SAE J1393, ISO 6976, FIA GT3 Technical Regulations, SAE J2723.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of the FIA Formula 1 Technical Regulations, Appendix J to the FIA International Sporting Code and the Formula E Technical Regulations applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:GT-SUITE, Simcenter Star-CCM+, OpenFOAM, MATLAB/Simulink and MoTeC i2, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Master's Thesis with defence:A complete cooling system design for a racing vehicle, from thermal requirements to 1D and CFD simulation and a test 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.

Thermal balance analysis
Establish the thermal balance of a GT3 car from heat sources to rejection requirements.
Radiator sizing
Size a radiator and its duct with the ε-NTU method and internal-flow CFD in OpenFOAM.
Brake and tyre thermal models
Model brake cooling on a street circuit and a three-node tyre thermal model.
Simulation and track correlation
Build cooling circuit and conjugate CFD models and correlate them with race-weekend data.
Master's Thesis
Design a complete cooling system for a chosen vehicle and category, defended before a panel.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Thermal management engineerThermal CFD engineerEngine cooling engineerBrake engineerTrack data engineerHybrid systems 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 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 GT-SUITE, Simcenter Star-CCM+, OpenFOAM, MATLAB/Simulink and MoTeC i2, 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 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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