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Diploma in High-Performance Dampers

Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in high-performance dampers. 8 modules covering damping physics, damper technology, valve design, bench testing, thermal management, application tuning and semi-active and active damping, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration6–8 months
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
Enrol now View syllabus Ask an advisor
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Understand the physics of damping.

02

Analyse the internal technology of dampers.

03

Design valves and shim stacks.

04

Test dampers on a dyno.

05

Manage thermal behaviour and reliability.

06

Tune dampers to suit the application.

07

Understand semi-active and active systems.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Damper technicians looking to deepen their knowledge of high-performance units.
  • Suspension engineers working on damping and valving.
  • Test engineers running damper dyno and fade programmes.
  • Motorsport preparers setting up off-road and rally vehicles.
  • Vehicle dynamics engineers who need a solid grasp of damper behaviour.
  • Suspension service technicians moving into revalving and tuning.
  • Engineering or science graduates aiming to join damper manufacturers.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • ISO 2631-1 (whole-body vibration exposure)
  • ISO 8608 (road surface profiles)
  • ISO 16750-3 (mechanical loads on vehicle equipment)
  • FIA Appendix J, Article 283 (safety and technical rules for cross-country vehicles)
  • Directive 2002/44/EC (workers' exposure to vibration)
  • MATLAB/Simulink
  • MSC Adams
  • MoTeC i2 Pro
  • SolidWorks
Syllabus

8 modules

  1. 1.1Role of the damper in the vehicle
  2. 1.2Critical damping and damping ratio
  3. 1.3Natural frequencies of sprung and unsprung mass
  4. 1.4Transmissibility
  5. 1.5Force versus shaft velocity
  6. 1.6Compression and rebound
  7. 1.7Energy dissipation and heat
  8. 1.8Comfort versus control
  9. 1.9Occupant vibration to ISO 2631-1
  10. 1.10Workshop: calculating the damping ratio
  1. 2.1Monotube and twin-tube
  2. 2.2Remote reservoir and floating piston
  3. 2.3Nitrogen pressurisation
  4. 2.4Pistons and shim stacks
  5. 2.5Low- and high-speed valves
  6. 2.6Position-sensitive bypass dampers
  7. 2.7Internal hydraulic bump stops
  8. 2.8Seals, guides and shafts
  9. 2.9Oils and viscosity
  10. 2.10Practical: stripping down a monotube damper
  1. 3.1Flow through orifices
  2. 3.2Shim deflection
  3. 3.3Shim stack configuration
  4. 3.4Preload and digressivity
  5. 3.5High-speed valves
  6. 3.6Adjustable bypass valves
  7. 3.7Cavitation and its prevention
  8. 3.8Valve simulation
  9. 3.9Prototyping configurations
  10. 3.10Lab: comparing shim stacks
  1. 4.1Damper dynos
  2. 4.2Force-velocity curves
  3. 4.3Force-displacement curves
  4. 4.4Temperature and fade tests
  5. 4.5Durability tests
  6. 4.6Dyno repeatability
  7. 4.7Unit-to-unit comparison
  8. 4.8Documenting curves
  9. 4.9Interpreting results
  10. 4.10Practical: dyno testing and obtaining curves
  1. 5.1Heat generation in off-road use
  2. 5.2Oils and their degradation
  3. 5.3Cooling via reservoirs and fins
  4. 5.4Loss of damping with temperature
  5. 5.5Seal wear
  6. 5.6Internal contamination
  7. 5.7Service intervals
  8. 5.8Failure analysis
  9. 5.9Durability improvements
  10. 5.10Case study: a damper overheating on a long stage
  1. 6.1Selection by mass and travel
  2. 6.2Installation leverage ratio
  3. 6.3Compression and rebound adjustment
  4. 6.4Tuning for jumps and landings
  5. 6.5Tuning for rocks and washboard
  6. 6.6Coordination with springs
  7. 6.7Set-up for heavy vehicles
  8. 6.8Set-up for motorcycles
  9. 6.9Recording set-ups
  10. 6.10Workshop: revalving for a specific vehicle
  1. 7.1Dampers with electronic valves
  2. 7.2Magnetorheological fluid
  3. 7.3Skyhook control
  4. 7.4Sensors and strategies
  5. 7.5Hydraulic active systems
  6. 7.6Integration with vehicle dynamics
  7. 7.7Simulation in Simulink
  8. 7.8Advantages off-road
  9. 7.9Cost and complexity
  10. 7.10Lab: skyhook control in simulation
  1. 8.1Defining the application
  2. 8.2Damping requirements
  3. 8.3Selecting the architecture
  4. 8.4Valve design
  5. 8.5Bench test plan
  6. 8.6Tuning strategy
  7. 8.7Track validation
  8. 8.8Conclusions
  9. 8.9Report and presentation
  10. 8.10Final project: final review with your tutor
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

100% online training 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 the programme fits around your job.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is MATLAB/Simulink, MSC Adams, MoTeC i2 Pro and SolidWorks, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: obtaining curves on a damper dyno, revalving for off-road applications and thermal fade tests. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.

Standards covered: ISO 2631-1, ISO 8608, ISO 16750-3, FIA Appendix J Article 283, Directive 2002/44/EC.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of ISO 2631-1, ISO 8608 and ISO 16750-3 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:MATLAB/Simulink, MSC Adams, MoTeC i2 Pro and SolidWorks, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:a complete high-performance damper project, from application definition to track validation, 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.

Damping ratio calculation
Calculate the damping ratio and natural frequencies of a real suspension.
Shim stack comparison
Simulate and compare shim stack configurations for a given valve.
Dyno testing
Test a damper on the dyno and document its force-velocity and force-displacement curves.
Revalving for a vehicle
Revalve a damper for a specific off-road vehicle or motorcycle.
Final project
Design and validate a high-performance damper for a defined application, reviewed by your tutor.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Damper technicianSuspension engineerTest engineerMotorsport preparerVehicle dynamics engineerSuspension service technician
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 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 MATLAB/Simulink, MSC Adams, MoTeC i2 Pro and SolidWorks, 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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