Fundamentals of Terramechanics Course
300-hour online course in fundamentals of terramechanics. 6 modules covering ASABE S313 (cone penetrometer for soils), ASABE EP542 (cone penetrometer operating procedure) and MSC Adams. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Fundamentals of Terramechanics Course — studying from Canada
Canada's off-road and heavy machinery sector serves mining, forestry, agriculture and construction, all major contributors to the national economy. Manufacturers and dealers in Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia supply equipment for resource extraction and infrastructure. Mining activity in Northern Ontario, Quebec and the territories drives demand for rugged vehicle engineering and maintenance expertise. Engineers work on hydraulics, drivetrains, machine safety and special vehicle design.
Fees for Canada: C$1,010 (Canadian dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Canada
Typical roles
Questions from Canada
Is this programme recognised by professional bodies in Canada for off-road and special vehicle engineering?
SEIUM's qualifications are private, not official state degrees, and are not accredited nationally in Canada. Professional engineering titles are regulated provincially, and vehicle and equipment safety is governed by standards such as those from the CSA and rules from Transport Canada where applicable. Recognition of a private qualification is decided by employers or the relevant body.
What employers in Canada might value this qualification for special vehicles and machinery?
Employers could include mining, forestry, agricultural, construction and specialist vehicle manufacturers across Canada. Each employer decides how much weight to place on a private qualification, and practical experience is often central in these sectors. The final project can demonstrate applied capability, but it does not guarantee any role.
How can I study this while working in Canada, and how is it funded?
The programme is online and in English, so you can study from anywhere in Canada without a student visa. Choose from 300-hour specialist courses, 800-hour postgraduate diplomas or 1,900-hour master's programmes. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible, which some Canadian employers offer for job-relevant training.
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 object of study of terramechanics.
Characterise the mechanical properties of terrain.
Apply the Bekker and Wong models to rigid and deformable wheels.
Analyse the interaction between tracks and terrain.
Evaluate the mobility of the complete vehicle.
Design tests and simulations of vehicle-terrain interaction.
Develop a mobility study in a final project.
Who it's for
- Terramechanics engineer looking to specialise in Fundamentals of Terramechanics.
- Vehicle mobility engineer looking to specialise in Fundamentals of Terramechanics.
- Researcher in vehicle-terrain interaction looking to specialise in Fundamentals of Terramechanics.
- Tyre and track engineer looking to specialise in Fundamentals of Terramechanics.
- Multibody simulation engineer looking to specialise in Fundamentals of Terramechanics.
- Agricultural machinery engineer looking to specialise in Fundamentals of Terramechanics.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter off-road machinery manufacturing.
What you'll work with
- ASABE S313 (cone penetrometer for soils)
- ASABE EP542 (cone penetrometer operating procedure)
- ISO 17892-10 (direct shear test)
- ISO 22476-1 (cone penetration test)
- ISO 14688-1 (soil identification)
- ASTM D2487 (unified soil classification)
- EN 1997 (Eurocode 7, geotechnical design)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Machine-terrain interaction1.2Origin and development of the discipline1.3Applications in agriculture, construction and space1.4Fundamental quantities1.5Units and conventions1.6Soil as an engineering material1.7Soil classification for mobility1.8Limitations of the theoretical approach1.9Reference bibliography1.10Workshop: formulating a mobility problem
2.1Cohesion and angle of internal friction2.2Moisture, density and plasticity2.3Pressure-sinkage relationship2.4Soil deformation moduli2.5Shear strength2.6Behaviour under repeated loading2.7Layered soils2.8Effect of vegetation and stubble2.9Characterisation tests2.10Practice: characterising a sample
3.1Contact patch and its geometry3.2Pressure distribution under the wheel3.3Sinkage and rolling resistance3.4Generation of traction3.5Traction-slip relationship3.6Effect of inflation pressure3.7Rigid wheel versus deformable wheel3.8Driven wheel and towed wheel3.9Resistance from tyre deformation3.10Practice: calculation for a wheel
4.1Pressure distribution under the track4.2Contact length and width4.3Generation of traction in tracks4.4Resistance to track motion4.5Steering and steering resistance4.6Effect of track tension4.7Grousers and their contribution4.8Sinkage and flotation4.9Comparison with the wheel4.10Practice: calculation for a track
5.1Load distribution between axles5.2Load transfer under traction5.3Obstacle-crossing capability5.4Fording and gradeability capability5.5Mobility indices5.6Prediction of achievable speed5.7Energy consumption associated with mobility5.8Mobility across multiple wheel passes5.9Available calculation tools5.10Practice: mobility assessment of a vehicle
6.1Soil bin tests6.2Standardised field tests6.3Discrete and finite element models6.4Multibody simulation with soil6.5Validation and calibration6.6Uncertainty and sensitivity6.7Application to machine design6.8Planetary terramechanics: particularities6.9Dissemination and publication of results6.10Final project: complete terramechanics study
How you'll learn
Fully 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, which makes it possible to combine study with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is MSC Adams, MATLAB, Altair EDEM, Chrono (Project Chrono), Python (numpy), in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real testing procedures with bevameter and penetrometer, soil bin for wheels and tracks, and vehicle mobility simulation. Assessment is continuous 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 object of study of terramechanics.
Characterise the mechanical properties of terrain.
Apply the Bekker and Wong models to rigid and deformable wheels.
Analyse the interaction between tracks and terrain.
Evaluate the mobility of the complete vehicle.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient 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 totals 300 hours, spread over 3 to 5 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
You will work with MSC Adams, MATLAB, Altair EDEM, Chrono (Project Chrono), Python (numpy). Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
An in-house diploma from SEIUM Institute upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area can be credited towards the advanced programme. Please check the credit recognition policy when you enrol.
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