Advanced Lightweight Structures and Impact

Full-Time An MSc course in Structures, Crashworthiness and Impact

If you are interested in working in the field of structural design, developing crash protection systems, understanding how materials respond to impact loading, or would like to gain experience in the latest industry standard numerical analysis tools, then this course is of interest to you. Designing advanced lightweight structures to perform an intended function over its lifecycle, when subject to range of static and dynamic loading conditions, such as crash, bird strike or explosion, requires an expertise in a range of areas. In addition, the development costs associated with incorporating crashworthiness into a design is significant, as regulations force manufacturers to consider structural integrity and crash protection as a priority in the design.
These developments are leading to employer demand for graduates with strong skills in advanced structural analysis techniques, applied to practical problems in industry. This MSc programme will equip you with the skills to pursue a successful career in this expanding area of structural engineering.

Meet employer requirements

Focus on your interests

This course covers the fundamentals of crashworthiness and material response to impact loading, whilst enabling a student to specialise in appropriate subject areas via optional modules, a group project and research thesis. This flexibility means the course can be tailored to your interests and future career aspirations.

The course is directed by an industrial advisory committee comprising senior engineers from automotive, aerospace and defence sectors, who are directly involved with leading impact related research. This group ensures that the course content is up to date and relevant and equips you with the skills and knowledge required by leading employers.

Student aspirations

Learn from our experience

The course is steered by industry and supported by extensive applied research performed by the academic teaching staff in the Crashworthiness Group. Our unique focus on application will equip you with strong analytical skills in structural behaviour and failure, so that you can practically apply this knowledge to real engineering problems using the latest industrial- standard numerical tools.

Students who enrol come from a variety of different backgrounds. Many have specific careers in mind, such as working in automotive or aerospace disciplines (structural design, or crash protection), materials development for defence applications, or to work in the field of numerical code developments / consultancy. Others decide to continue their education through PhD studies available within the Crashworthiness Group.

Accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers

www.cranfield.ac.uk/soe

Entry Requirements: 1st or 2nd class UK honours degree (or equivalent) in an engineering related discipline. Funding: Email for details. Duration: 1 year full-time Start date: October Number of places: 25

Application process: By completion of an application form for postgraduate study obtainable from the Universitys Registry Department or alternatively by applying online at: www.cranfield.ac.uk/prospectus/apply

Course Content
Structure
The MSc Advanced Lightweight Structures and Impact is taught through specialist lecture modules, a group design project and an individual thesis.

which develops both technical and project management skills on an industrially relevant project. Recent projects include: Redesign of a crashworthy helicopter troop seat Improved crash protection for a low volume sports car Martian hard surface landing system Commission of a Split Hopkinson Bar facility

Modules
A total of 255 hours of lectures must be completed, which consists of assessed compulsory and optional lecture courses, along with lectures from visiting industrial experts. The programme employs a wide range of teaching methods designed to create a demanding and varied learning environment including: structured lecture programmes, tutorials, case studies, hands-on computing, individual projects, and guest lecturers. The compulsory modules are: Structural Mechanics Composite Structures Finite element method Crashworthiness (auto or aerospace) Simulation for impact and crashworthiness Introduction to continuum mechanics Material characterisation for simulation Thin-walled structures Option in Automotive Structures: Automotive Structures Fundamentals Structural Integrity Structural Stability / Dynamics Option in Aerospace Structures 1: Structural Stability Structural integrity and testing Structural Dynamics Option in Aerospace Structures 2: Fluid Mechanics and Loading Shockwaves and explosives Impact Dynamics Structural Integrity

Research thesis
Research thesis topics can vary greatly, allowing students to develop their own areas of interest and often have industrial input. Recent topics include: Racing car crashworthiness (F1, etc) Impact on aerospace structures (Bird strike, hail-ice) Failure of composite materials Structural Optimisation.

About Cranfield University

Cranfield is a wholly postgraduate university with an international community and a truly global reputation. Our passion for the areas of expertise we operate in and our hands on relationship with industry is unparalleled elsewhere in the world. We offer a superb academic: student ratio, state-of-the art facilities and a proven track record of graduate employment. Cranfield is ranked third in the UK for the impact of our mechanical, aeronautical and manufacturing research by the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) and our recent institutional audit where the quality and standards of our teaching was assessed bestowed the highest level of recognition possible. Our research income, measured as a percentage of our turnover, puts us as one of the top five research intensive universities in the UK, alongside Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College and UCL.

Group Project

Available online
www.cranfield.ac.uk/soe/ postgraduatestudy/crashworthiness Course video

One of the greatest challenges graduates face is the lack of experience in dealing with the complexities of working within a design team. This part of the course consolidates the taught material and is student-led,

Further Information
Course Administrator Department of Applied Mechanics T: +44 (0) 1234 758 276 E: soe_sci@cranfield.ac.uk

www.cranfield.ac.uk/soe