Tilting truck course: design, rigidity and materials
Online course of 300 hours in swingarms: design, stiffness and materials. 6 modules covering the function of the swingarm, stiffness and strength calculation, materials and processes, finite element simulation, and testing and validation, 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 loads acting on a swingarm.
Calculate the stiffness and strength of different sections.
Select suitable materials and manufacturing processes.
Simulate static, fatigue and modal behaviour.
Validate the design through bench and track testing.
Optimise the balance between stiffness, weight and cost.
Design a complete swingarm for a motorcycle.
Who it's for
- Chassis engineers working on rear-end design.
- Structural analysis engineers applying FE methods to motorcycle components.
- CAD designers developing chassis parts.
- Manufacturing engineers dealing with aluminium structures.
- Test engineers responsible for component validation.
- Aluminium welding technicians.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to join motorcycle manufacturers.
What you'll work with
- EN 1999-1-3 (Eurocode 9, aluminium structures susceptible to fatigue)
- EN 755-2 (extruded aluminium profiles, mechanical properties)
- EN ISO 5817 (quality levels for welds)
- EN 573-3 (chemical composition of aluminium alloys)
- Delegated Regulation (EU) No 44/2014 (construction requirements)
- ISO 6725:1981 (motorcycle dimensions)
- EN ISO 9606-2 (welder qualification, aluminium)
- SolidWorks Simulation
- Ansys Mechanical
- Altair OptiStruct
- nCode DesignLife
6 modules
1.1Traction, braking and lateral loads1.2Chain pull and its effect1.3Swingarm length and stability1.4Lateral and torsional stiffness1.5Controlled flex at high lean angles1.6Single-sided and double-sided swingarms1.7Shaft-drive swingarms1.8Mounting on the frame or on the engine1.9Type-approval requirements1.10Case study: comparison of swingarms on the market
2.1Beam and torsion models2.2Lateral stiffness measured at the axle2.3Section calculation2.4Stress concentration2.5High-cycle fatigue2.6Wöhler curves for aluminium2.7Load combinations2.8Safety factors2.9Calculation of bearings and pivot shaft2.10Practical exercise: analytical calculation of lateral stiffness
3.1Aluminium 6061 and 70203.2Extruded aluminium profiles3.3Permanent-mould casting3.4Steel and carbon-fibre swingarms3.5Aluminium welding3.6T6 heat treatment3.7Machining of brackets3.8Quality and manufacturing defects3.9Cost according to production volume3.10Workshop: process selection for a short run
4.1CAD model of the swingarm4.2Meshing of thin-walled parts4.3Realistic boundary conditions4.4Static stiffness analysis4.5Fatigue analysis4.6Topology optimisation of the arm4.7Modal analysis of the swingarm4.8Comparison of variants4.9Validation with testing4.10Lab: optimisation of an aluminium arm
5.1Lateral and torsional stiffness test rig5.2Strain gauges on track5.3Fatigue testing on a servo-hydraulic rig5.4Weld inspection5.5Dimensional measurement of axle and pivot5.6Impact testing5.7Comparison between calculation and testing5.8Rider feedback5.9Validation report5.10Case study: calculation-test stiffness correlation
6.1Motorcycle requirements6.2Concept and typology6.3CAD design of the swingarm6.4Analytical section calculation6.5Finite element simulation6.6Material and process6.7Test plan6.8Final cost and weight6.9Report 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 the intake, so it is compatible with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is SolidWorks Simulation, Ansys Mechanical, Altair OptiStruct and nCode DesignLife, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: lateral stiffness calculation of the swingarm, topology optimisation of an arm and correlation between calculation and bench testing. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final integrating project.
Standards covered: EN 1999-1-3, EN 755-2, EN ISO 5817, EN 573-3, Delegated Regulation (EU) No 44/2014, ISO 6725:1981, EN ISO 9606-2.
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.
- 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 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 SolidWorks Simulation, Ansys Mechanical, Altair OptiStruct, nCode DesignLife, 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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