Master’s in Terramechanics and Traction on Natural Soils Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in terramechanics and traction on natural soils, structured in 12 modules covering natural soils and their variability, soil strength, the wheel on deformable soil, traction and slip, mobility on snow, sand and mud, empirical mobility models, numerical soil simulation, active traction control, soil conservation, field instrumentation and special applications, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in Terramechanics and Traction on Natural Soils Engineering — 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$12,600 (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
Characterise the strength and deformability of natural soils.
Calculate sinkage, resistance and traction of wheels and tracks.
Apply empirical mobility models.
Simulate vehicle-soil interaction with numerical methods.
Design active traction control strategies.
Assess the impact of traffic on soil conservation.
Plan instrumented field test campaigns.
Who it's for
- Terramechanics engineers.
- Off-road mobility researchers.
- Tractor test engineers.
- Soil simulation specialists.
- Trafficability consultants.
- Field robotics engineers.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the agricultural machinery sector.
What you'll work with
- ASABE S296 (traction terminology)
- ASABE S313.3 (soil cone penetrometer)
- ASABE EP542 (procedures for using the cone penetrometer)
- OECD Standard Code for tractor testing (official tractor performance tests)
- ISO 789-9 (drawbar power tests)
- UNE-EN ISO 17892-10 (direct shear test)
- UNE-EN ISO 14688-1 (identification of soils)
- Altair EDEM
- Project Chrono
- MATLAB
- ArcGIS Pro
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Sandy, silty and clay soils1.2Peat and organic soils1.3Snow and ice as running surfaces1.4Saturated soils and mud1.5Spatial variability of terrain1.6Effect of moisture and season1.7Vegetation and root systems1.8Use of soil maps1.9Remote sensing of trafficability1.10Case study: trafficability map of a plot
2.1Shear strength in natural soils2.2Matric suction in unsaturated soils2.3Response to cyclic loading2.4Consolidation under traffic2.5Plasticity and consistency2.6Dry density and compaction2.7Triaxial soil test2.8Plate load test2.9Bekker pressure-sinkage parameters2.10Lab: pressure-sinkage parameters of a soil
3.1Wheel-soil contact zone3.2Normal and shear stresses3.3Entry and exit angles3.4Static and dynamic sinkage3.5Rigid versus flexible wheel3.6Bulldozing effect3.7Multiple passes in the same rut3.8Driven and towed wheels3.9Two-dimensional contact models3.10Practical: sinkage and resistance of a rigid wheel
4.1Traction versus slip curve4.2Net traction coefficient4.3Vehicle tractive efficiency4.4Drawbar power4.5Ballasting agricultural tractors4.6Tests with a dynamometer car4.7Optimum weight-to-power ratio4.8Slip control4.9Interaction with implements4.10Lab: traction with a dynamometer car
5.1Snow mechanics5.2Vehicles on snow5.3Dry sand and dunes5.4Mud and saturated soils5.5Peatlands and wetlands5.6Ice and friction5.7Chains and studs5.8Flotation and mean pressure5.9Water-to-land transitions5.10Case study: mobility in a wetland
6.1NATO Reference Mobility Model (NRMM)6.2Mobility index6.3Vehicle cone index6.4Go/no-go criteria6.5Evolution towards next-generation models6.6Achievable speed maps6.7Validation with field data6.8Limitations of empirical models6.9Civil applications of the models6.10Practical: cone index of a vehicle
7.1Discrete element method7.2Finite elements in terramechanics7.3Smoothed particle hydrodynamics7.4Material point method7.5Parameter calibration7.6Computational cost of simulation7.7Co-simulation with the vehicle7.8Experimental validation of simulations7.9Available simulation tools7.10Lab: DEM of a wheel in sand
8.1Differential locks8.2Brake-based traction control8.3Active torque distribution8.4Central tyre inflation8.5Real-time slip optimisation8.6Estimation of soil properties8.7Slip sensors8.8Control algorithms8.9Validation tests8.10Case study: slip estimator
9.1Traffic-induced compaction9.2Erosion in ruts9.3Rut depth9.4Soil recovery9.5Controlled traffic on plots9.6Soil protection regulations9.7Impact of forest harvesting9.8Conservation agriculture9.9Impact indicators9.10Practical: assessment of ruts after timber extraction
10.1Bevameter tests10.2Cone penetrometer10.3Annular shear test10.4Sinkage measurement10.5Laser scanning of ruts10.6RTK GNSS for slip measurement10.7Drawbar dynamometry10.8Test protocols10.9Uncertainty analysis10.10Practical: test campaign on natural soil
11.1Lunar and Martian regolith11.2Planetary rover wheels11.3Effects of low gravity11.4Lessons from wheel wear on Mars11.5Regolith simulants11.6Exploration tests11.7Rescue vehicles on soft terrain11.8Field robotics11.9Precision agriculture11.10Case study: rover wheel in simulant
12.1Definition of the mobility problem12.2Soil characterisation12.3Model selection12.4Interaction simulation12.5Field test plan12.6Traction analysis12.7Improvement measures12.8Discussion of results12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
The programme is taught 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 you can combine it with your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Altair EDEM, Project Chrono, MATLAB and ArcGIS Pro, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for traction tests with a dynamometer car, soil characterisation with a bevameter and DEM simulation of wheel-soil interaction. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: ASABE S296; ASABE S313.3; ASABE EP542; OECD Standard Code for tractor testing; ISO 789-9; UNE-EN ISO 17892-10; UNE-EN ISO 14688-1.
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
- 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.
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 Altair EDEM, Project Chrono, MATLAB and ArcGIS Pro, 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 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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