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Postgraduate DiplomaDefense, Military Engineering & Land Systems Applications open

Diploma in Fatigue and Durability of Military Aircraft

Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in fatigue and durability of military aircraft. 8 modules covering service loads and spectra, metal fatigue, crack growth, design philosophies (MIL-STD-1530D, JSSG-2006, DEF STAN 00-970), durability testing, fleet management, corrosion fatigue and composites, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration6–8 months
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Characterise service loads and spectra.

02

Estimate the fatigue life of metallic components.

03

Analyse crack growth.

04

Apply damage-tolerance design philosophies.

05

Plan durability tests.

06

Manage the structural integrity of fleets.

07

Assess corrosion fatigue and the durability of composites.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Fatigue and damage tolerance engineers working on military airframes.
  • Structural integrity engineers involved in ASIP programmes.
  • Structural test engineers running fatigue and damage tolerance tests.
  • Fleet management analysts tracking life consumption.
  • Repair engineers assessing structural repairs on metallic and composite parts.
  • Stress engineers who want to add fatigue and durability to their skill set.
  • Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the defence sector.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • MIL-STD-1530D (Aircraft Structural Integrity Program, ASIP)
  • JSSG-2006 (US joint service specification guide for aircraft structures)
  • DEF STAN 00-970 (UK design and airworthiness requirements for service aircraft)
  • ASTM E647 (fatigue crack growth rate testing)
  • ASTM E466 (force-controlled constant-amplitude axial fatigue testing)
  • ASTM E606 (strain-controlled fatigue testing)
  • MMPDS (metallic materials properties for aerospace structures)
  • AFGROW
  • NASGRO
  • nCode DesignLife
  • Abaqus
  • MATLAB
Syllabus

8 modules

  1. 1.1Mission profiles
  2. 1.2Load factors
  3. 1.3Load spectra
  4. 1.4In-flight load recording
  5. 1.5FALSTAFF and TWIST standardised spectra
  6. 1.6Acceleration counters
  7. 1.7Individual aircraft tracking
  8. 1.8Flight data
  9. 1.9Usage severity
  10. 1.10Case study: spectrum for a trainer fleet
  1. 2.1S-N curves
  2. 2.2Stress concentrators
  3. 2.3Miner's rule
  4. 2.4Strain-life approach
  5. 2.5Mean stress effect
  6. 2.6Surface finish
  7. 2.7Riveted and bolted joints
  8. 2.8Fretting
  9. 2.9ASTM E466 and E606 tests
  10. 2.10Practical exercise: fatigue life estimation
  1. 3.1Linear elastic fracture mechanics
  2. 3.2Stress intensity factor
  3. 3.3Paris law
  4. 3.4Retardation effects
  5. 3.5NASGRO code
  6. 3.6AFGROW code
  7. 3.7Fracture toughness
  8. 3.8ASTM E647 tests
  9. 3.9Multiple cracks
  10. 3.10Lab: crack growth with AFGROW
  1. 4.1Safe life
  2. 4.2Fail-safe
  3. 4.3Damage tolerance
  4. 4.4ASIP programme MIL-STD-1530D
  5. 4.5JSSG-2006 guide
  6. 4.6DEF STAN 00-970
  7. 4.7Inspection requirements
  8. 4.8Assumed initial damage
  9. 4.9Durability analysis
  10. 4.10Workshop: classification of critical structural elements
  1. 5.1Full-scale fatigue testing
  2. 5.2Component testing
  3. 5.3Spectrum application
  4. 5.4Post-test teardown
  5. 5.5Test–analysis correlation
  6. 5.6Damage tolerance testing
  7. 5.7Instrumentation
  8. 5.8Anomaly management
  9. 5.9Lessons from programmes
  10. 5.10Practical exercise: test plan for a component
  1. 6.1Individual tracking
  2. 6.2Fatigue index
  3. 6.3Inspection programmes
  4. 6.4Structural repairs
  5. 6.5Life extension
  6. 6.6HUMS systems
  7. 6.7Structural configuration management
  8. 6.8Aircraft rotation
  9. 6.9Fleet indicators
  10. 6.10Case study: prioritising inspections in a fleet
  1. 7.1Corrosion–fatigue interaction
  2. 7.2Environmental damage
  3. 7.3Composite fatigue
  4. 7.4Impact damage
  5. 7.5Delamination growth
  6. 7.6Composite repairs
  7. 7.7Hybrid structures
  8. 7.8Structural health monitoring
  9. 7.9New alloys
  10. 7.10Workshop: assessment of a repair
  1. 8.1Aircraft description
  2. 8.2Load spectrum
  3. 8.3Fatigue analysis
  4. 8.4Crack growth analysis
  5. 8.5Inspection programme
  6. 8.6Test plan
  7. 8.7Fleet management plan
  8. 8.8Conclusions
  9. 8.9Report and presentation
  10. 8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

The programme is delivered 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 AFGROW, NASGRO, nCode DesignLife, Abaqus and MATLAB, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for crack growth analysis, fatigue test plans and fleet life consumption tracking. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.

Standards covered: MIL-STD-1530D, JSSG-2006, DEF STAN 00-970, ASTM E647, ASTM E466, ASTM E606, MMPDS.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of MIL-STD-1530D, JSSG-2006 and DEF STAN 00-970 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:AFGROW, NASGRO, nCode DesignLife, Abaqus and MATLAB, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:A durability project covering load spectrum, fatigue and crack growth analysis, inspection programme, test plan and fleet management plan, reviewed by your tutor.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Load spectrum
Define the load spectrum of the aircraft from mission profiles and flight data.
Fatigue life estimation
Estimate the fatigue life of critical metallic components.
Crack growth analysis
Analyse crack growth with AFGROW and define inspection intervals.
Test and fleet plan
Draw up a durability test plan and a fleet management plan.
Final project
Develop a complete durability project for a military aircraft, reviewed against MIL-STD-1530D.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Fatigue and damage tolerance engineerStructural integrity engineerStructural test engineerFleet management analystRepair engineerStress engineer
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
  • An internet connection and a computer able to run the programme's 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.

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FAQ

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 work with AFGROW, NASGRO, nCode DesignLife, Abaqus and MATLAB, 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 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 (no university degree required), a computer able to run 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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