Postgraduate Diploma in Rotor Vibration and Active Control
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in rotor vibration and active control. 8 modules covering rotor dynamics, transmission to the fuselage, experimental measurement, blade balancing and tracking, passive and active vibration control and health monitoring to CS-29, ISO 21940-11 and CAP 753, with an assigned technical tutor.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Identify the sources of vibration in rotary-wing aircraft and their transmission to the fuselage.
Model the dynamic response of the rotor and its characteristic frequencies.
Plan measurement campaigns and spectral analysis of vibration.
Apply blade balancing and tracking procedures.
Size passive control solutions such as absorbers and isolators.
Design active vibration control strategies and assess their effectiveness.
Integrate structural health monitoring into the maintenance plan.
Who it's for
- Rotor dynamics engineers who want to specialise in rotor vibration and active control.
- Aeronautical vibration engineers who want to specialise in rotor vibration and active control.
- HUMS specialists who want to specialise in rotor vibration and active control.
- Flight test engineers who want to specialise in rotor vibration and active control.
- Active vibration control engineers who want to specialise in rotor vibration and active control.
- Helicopter maintenance engineers who want to specialise in rotor vibration and active control.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the helicopter industry.
What you'll work with
- CS-29 (large rotorcraft)
- ISO 21940-11 (balancing of rigid rotors)
- CAP 753 (helicopter HUMS)
- CS-27 (small rotorcraft)
- AC 29-2C (certification of transport category rotorcraft)
- ISO 20816-1 (evaluation of machine vibration)
- ISO 2041 (vibration and shock vocabulary)
- MATLAB/Simulink
- Simcenter Testlab
- CAMRAD II
- MSC Nastran
- Python (SciPy)
8 modules
1.1Origin of vibration in a rotor1.2Characteristic frequencies and harmonics1.3Vibration in the rotor and in the fuselage1.4Effect on the crew and on equipment1.5Effect on structural fatigue1.6Requirements and acceptable limits1.7Applicable regulations1.8Quantities and units1.9Study methodology1.10Workshop: vibration characterisation of an aircraft
2.1Flap, lead-lag and torsion motions2.2Natural frequency (fan) diagram2.3Ground and air resonance2.4Articulated, hingeless and bearingless rotors2.5Lead-lag dampers2.6Coupling between degrees of freedom2.7Effect of rotor speed2.8Reference analytical models2.9Validation of the models2.10Practical: frequency diagram of a rotor
3.1The rotor head as a source of loads3.2Transmission paths3.3Natural modes of the fuselage3.4Rotor-fuselage coupling3.5Ground resonance and its prevention3.6Suspension of the engine-transmission assembly3.7Passive isolation3.8Fuselage instrumentation3.9On-board vibration maps3.10Practical: modal analysis of a structure
4.1Accelerometers and their placement4.2Telemetry from the blade4.3Frequency and order analysis4.4Experimental modal analysis4.5Ground and flight tests4.6Flight test safety4.7Signal processing4.8Repeatability and reliability of data4.9Test report4.10Practical: measurement and analysis campaign
5.1Static and dynamic balancing5.2Blade track monitoring5.3Measurement equipment on the flight line5.4Adjusting pitch links and weights5.5Tabulating corrections5.6Effect of each adjustment5.7Standardised procedure5.8Documenting the adjustment5.9Common mistakes5.10Practical: complete balancing procedure
6.1Dynamic absorbers6.2Bifilar pendulums on the rotor head6.3Bar and nodal isolators6.4Viscoelastic dampers6.5Tuning and its sensitivity6.6Added weight and penalty6.7Maintenance of the devices6.8Degradation with temperature6.9Flight validation6.10Practical: design of a tuned absorber
7.1The concept of active vibration control7.2Actuators: hydraulic, piezoelectric and electromechanical7.3Individual blade control7.4Active flaps on the blade7.5Active structural control7.6Sensors and feedback7.7Control algorithms and their robustness7.8Power consumption and weight7.9Certification of an active system7.10Practical: design of a control loop
8.1In-service vibration monitoring8.2Health monitoring systems8.3Thresholds and alarms8.4Fault diagnosis through vibration8.5Relationship between vibration and fatigue8.6Maintenance planning8.7Aircraft historical record8.8Common diagnostic mistakes8.9Documented real cases8.10Final project: vibration control programme for an aircraft
How you'll learn
A 100% online programme 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 you can combine it with your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is MATLAB/Simulink, Simcenter Testlab, CAMRAD II, MSC Nastran and Python (SciPy), in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for rotor test benches, in-flight vibration measurements and blade balancing and tracking on the platform. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final capstone project.
Standards covered: CS-29, ISO 21940-11, CAP 753, CS-27, AC 29-2C, ISO 20816-1 and ISO 2041.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. A university degree is not required.
- 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.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You will work with MATLAB/Simulink, Simcenter Testlab, CAMRAD II, MSC Nastran and Python (SciPy). Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and your tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. 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 are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (a university degree is not required), an internet connection and a computer capable of running 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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