Propulsion-Structure Integration Course
Online course of 300 hours in propulsion-structure integration, structured in 6 modules covering aircraft engine installation, loads and design cases, mount and pylon design, dynamics and vibration, and integration in space vehicles, with an assigned technical tutor.
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
Identify the load paths between the propulsion system and the structure.
Calculate the critical load cases for mounts and pylons.
Design fail-safe supports using fatigue and damage tolerance criteria.
Analyse coupled engine-structure dynamics.
Assess the integration of rocket engines and thrusters in space vehicles.
Apply finite element models to integration analysis.
Justify the structural compliance of a propulsion installation.
Who it's for
- Aircraft structures engineers working on pylons and nacelles.
- Propulsion integration engineers at airframe and engine manufacturers.
- Loads analysts defining engine installation load cases.
- Structural dynamics engineers dealing with coupled modes and flutter.
- Structural certification engineers preparing compliance justifications.
- Launcher design engineers working on thrust frames and stages.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter aircraft manufacturing.
What you'll work with
- CS-25 (EASA certification specifications for large aeroplanes)
- 14 CFR Part 25 (FAA airworthiness standards for transport category aeroplanes)
- CS-E (EASA certification specifications for engines)
- FAA AC 20-107B (composite aircraft structure)
- MMPDS (metallic materials properties for aerospace structures)
- CMH-17 (composite materials handbook)
- ECSS-E-ST-32C (space engineering, structural general requirements)
- ECSS-E-ST-32-10C (structural factors of safety for spaceflight hardware)
- MSC Nastran
- Abaqus
- Altair HyperMesh
- Ansys Mechanical
- Femap
6 modules
1.1Under-wing, fuselage and tail-mounted configurations1.2Pylons, mounts and nacelles1.3Engine-wing load paths1.4Thrust, torque and gyroscopic loads1.5Certification load cases1.6Engine-wing aerodynamic interaction1.7Installation of propellers and turboprops1.8Integration in launchers and satellites1.9Load paths in the nacelle and thrust reverser1.10Workshop: load diagram of a pylon
2.1Limit and ultimate loads2.2Engine seizure torque2.3Blade loss and unbalance2.4Landing and gust loads on the engine2.5Thermal loads from the exhaust2.6Pressure loads in the nacelle2.7Combination of load cases2.8Applicable safety factors2.9Ingestion loads and engine separation2.10Practical: calculation of loads on engine mounts
3.1Forward and aft mounts3.2Fail-safe design and redundant load paths3.3Materials: titanium, Inconel and composites3.4Fatigue and damage tolerance3.5Critical joints and bolts3.6Vibration isolators3.7Firewalls and thermal protection3.8Maintainability and access3.9Structural fuses and controlled separation3.10Case study: analysis of a mount with simulated failure
4.1Coupled engine-wing modes4.2Flutter with engine masses4.3Vibration transmission to the cabin4.4Response to rotor unbalance4.5Windmilling after blade loss4.6Isolation and damping4.7Ground vibration testing4.8Rotor modelling in structural analysis4.9Dynamic response to bird strikes4.10Lab: modal analysis of an engine-pylon assembly
5.1Rocket engine thrust and stage structure5.2Engine thrust frames and gimbal5.3POGO oscillations5.4Launch loads on satellite thrusters5.5Attachment of tanks and thrusters5.6Thermal distortion and thrust alignment5.7Structural qualification testing5.8Lessons from launcher integration5.9Thruster joints in sandwich panels5.10Case study: thrust alignment on a satellite
6.1Definition of the configuration6.2Critical load cases6.3Preliminary design of the support6.4Finite element model6.5Static and fatigue analysis6.6Dynamic and modal analysis6.7Compliance justification6.8Test plan6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
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 is compatible with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is MSC Nastran, Abaqus, Altair HyperMesh, Ansys Mechanical and Femap, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: finite element modelling of an engine pylon, blade-loss load analysis, and modal study of a rocket engine thrust frame. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: CS-25, 14 CFR Part 25, CS-E, FAA AC 20-107B, MMPDS, CMH-17, ECSS-E-ST-32C, ECSS-E-ST-32-10C.
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
- No prior qualification is required.
- 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 300 hours over 3 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with MSC Nastran, Abaqus, Altair HyperMesh, Ansys Mechanical and Femap, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute certificate, 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.
No prior qualification is required; you need 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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