Course in Traction Testing on Test Benches
Online 300 h course in traction tests on test benches. 6 modules covering OECD Code 2 (official tractor performance test), ISO 789-9 (drawbar power test) and NI LabVIEW. Assigned tutor and enrolment open.
Course in Traction Testing on Test Benches — studying from Australia
Off-road and special-purpose vehicles are central to Australia's mining, agriculture, construction and emergency services sectors. Remote geography and harsh conditions create strong demand for robust machinery, including haul trucks, agricultural equipment and specialist fire and rescue vehicles. Engineers work on hydraulics, drivetrains, operator safety and machine automation. Employers include mining equipment manufacturers and dealers, agricultural machinery firms, construction companies and government fleet agencies.
Fees for Australia: A$1,020 (AUD), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Australia
Typical roles
Questions from Australia
Will this qualification be recognised by Australian engineering bodies for off-road vehicle work?
SEIUM qualifications are private and not accredited by Engineers Australia or any national body. Recognition is decided by employers or the relevant professional body assessing your application. Engineers Australia assesses competence independently, so check its requirements before enrolling if membership is your goal.
Which Australian employers work with off-road and special vehicles and machinery?
Mining and agricultural equipment makers, fleet operators, defence and emergency service vehicle suppliers, and four-wheel-drive modification businesses are examples. Their hiring decisions depend on their own criteria. Relevant experience and a practical final project are often as important as the qualification.
Can I study this online while working in Australia, and is there support?
Yes, the programmes are 100% online and taught in English, and each student has an assigned technical tutor. You can study from anywhere in Australia without a student visa. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible; check the total hours and plan a realistic schedule.
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
Explain the objectives of traction tests on vehicles and tractors.
Describe test benches and their instrumentation for force, speed and slip.
Carry out a traction test in accordance with standardised procedures.
Process data and obtain power, efficiency and slip curves.
Correlate bench results with field tests.
Apply laboratory quality and traceability requirements.
Design a traction testing programme for a specific vehicle.
Who it's for
- Traction test engineer who wishes to specialise in Traction Testing on Test Benches.
- Instrumentation technician who wishes to specialise in Traction Testing on Test Benches.
- Tractor development engineer who wishes to specialise in Traction Testing on Test Benches.
- Laboratory technician in agricultural testing who wishes to specialise in Traction Testing on Test Benches.
- Product quality engineer who wishes to specialise in Traction Testing on Test Benches.
- Researcher in agricultural mechanisation who wishes to specialise in Traction Testing on Test Benches.
- Graduates in engineering or science seeking to join tractor manufacturers.
What you'll work with
- OECD Code 2 (official tractor performance test)
- ISO 789-9 (drawbar power test)
- ISO 730 (three-point linkage)
- ISO 500 (power take-off)
- ASABE S296 (traction terminology)
- ISO/IEC 17025 (competence of testing laboratories)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Quantities to measure: force, speed and slip1.2Bench testing versus field testing1.3Roller benches and traction benches1.4Standardised test tracks1.5Applicable test codes and standards1.6Objectives: type approval, development and comparison1.7Repeatability and control of conditions1.8Required instrumentation1.9Safety during testing1.10Workshop: defining the objective of a test
2.1Roller bench: principle and limitations2.2Dynamometric brake and power absorption2.3Torque and speed measurement2.4Load cells and traction dynamometers2.5Slip measurement and actual speed measurement2.6Data acquisition and synchronisation2.7Calibration of equipment2.8Compensation for bench losses2.9Bench validation2.10Practical: preparing a test bench
3.1Machine preparation and checks3.2Load and ballasting conditions3.3Tyre pressures and their control3.4Sequence of measurement points3.5Thermal and condition stabilisation3.6Number of repetitions and scatter3.7Recording environmental conditions3.8Incidents and criteria for invalidation3.9Documentation during testing3.10Practical: running and recording a test
4.1Cleaning up recorded data4.2Calculation of drawbar power and efficiency4.3Traction versus slip curves4.4Corrections for environmental conditions4.5Result uncertainty4.6Comparison between configurations4.7Comparison with manufacturer values4.8Honest graphical representation4.9Test report and its contents4.10Practical: analysing a data set
5.1Soil, concrete and agricultural ground test tracks5.2Characterisation of the test soil5.3Slip and sinkage measurement5.4Terrain variability and its control5.5Bench-to-field correlation5.6Using results in design5.7Associated durability tests5.8Logistics and cost of field tests5.9Safety on the track5.10Practical: designing a field test
6.1Using results in product development6.2Use in machinery selection6.3Use in operator training6.4Accreditation of the test laboratory6.5Written procedures and traceability6.6Management of equipment and calibrations6.7Common errors in traction testing6.8Cost and planning of a test campaign6.9Communicating results to the client6.10Final project: complete traction testing campaign
How you'll learn
100 % online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetable: students progress at their own pace within the intake, making it possible to combine study with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is NI LabVIEW, HBM catman, MATLAB, Python (pandas), in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real drawbar traction test procedures with a loaded vehicle, slip and traction force measurement, and bench-to-field correlation. Assessment is continuous, module by module, plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Explain the objectives of traction tests on vehicles and tractors.
Describe test benches and their instrumentation for force, speed and slip.
Carry out a traction test in accordance with standardised procedures.
Process data and obtain power, efficiency and slip curves.
Correlate bench results with field tests.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior qualification is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient command of Spanish to follow technical standards documentation.
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 comprises 300 hours in total, spread over 3 to 5 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours a week, compatible with full-time work.
You will work with NI LabVIEW, HBM catman, MATLAB, Python (pandas). Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
An SEIUM own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. This is in-house training, not an official Ministry qualification.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area can be credited towards the advanced programme. Please check the credit transfer policy when you enrol.
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