Course description
Course Description:There are no other courses that provide dedicated specialist training in crashworthiness and impact, resulting in many of our graduates securing employment or research offers before the course finishes.Established in 2003, this course is supported by close ties with industry, through student projects, specialist lectures and more importantly, by employing our graduates.Start Months:OctoberFull Time/ Part Time:Full timeSchool:School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing Theme:AerospaceEntry Requirements:A first or second class UK Honours degree or equivalent in mathematics, physics, computing or an engineering discipline. Candidates with a degree in a less applicable discipline, or mature applicants with alternative qualifications may be accepted subject to the discretion of the course director. English Language:If you are an international student you will need to provide evidence that you have achieved a satisfactory test result in an English qualification.The minimum standard expected from a number of accepted courses are as follows: IELTS - 6.5 TOEFL - 92 Pearson PTE Academic - 65 Cambridge English Scale - 180 Cambridge English: Advanced - C Cambridge English: Proficiency - CIn addition to these minimum scores you are also expected to achieve a balanced score across all elements of the test. We reserve the right to reject any test score if any one element of the test score is too low. We can only accept tests taken within two years of your registration date (with the exception of Cambridge English tests which have no expiry date).Students requiring a Tier 4 (General) visa must ensure they can meet the English language requirements set out by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and we recommend booking a IELTS for UKVI test. Duration: Full-time MSc - one yearCourse Format:TaughtMScOverview: There are no other courses that provide dedicated specialist training in crashworthiness and impact, which can be tailored to your career aspirations. Delivered with a unique focus on application, this course will equip you with strong analytical skills in structural behaviour and failure in order for you to practically apply this knowledge to real engineering problems whilst using the latest industrial-standard numerical tools.Who is it for?Students who enrol come from a variety of different backgrounds. Many have specific careers in mind, such as working in automotive or aerospace disciplines (structural design or crash protection), materials development for defence applications, or to work in the field of numerical code developments/consultancy.Why this course?Designing advanced structures through novel, lightweight materials is one of the key enabling technologies for both aerospace and automotive sectors to align with national targets for reduction of carbon. In reducing inherent structural weight, it is essential not to compromise safety, as structural integrity and designing for crashworthiness become key design drivers. Understanding how aluminium or composite structures and materials perform over their life cycles under static and dynamic loading, including crash and bird strike, requires expertise in a range of areas. As new simulation and material technologies emerge, there is a continuing need for talented employees with a strong, applied understanding in structural analysis, together with competent technical skills in numerical simulation.Informed by Industry:Established in 2003, this course is supported by close ties with industry, through student projects, specialist lectures and more importantly, by employing our graduates.The MSc in Advanced Lightweight Structures and Impact is directed by an Industrial Advisory Panel comprising senior engineers from aerospace sectors. This maintains course relevancy and ensures that graduates are equipped with the skills and knowledge required by leading employers.The Industry Advisory Panel includes representatives from: Airbus Rolls-Royce Aero Optimal Ltd Zodiac Seats UK.Your teaching team:You will be taught by Cranfield’s University academic staff within the Centre of Structures, Assembly and Intelligent Automation including: Dr Hessam Ghasemnejad, Course Director - main research activities are focused on experimental, analytical and numerical aspects of structural stability in fibre-reinforced composites under various loading conditions such as buckling, post-buckling, fatigue, impact damage, blast and crash. Dr Yigeng Xu - extensive knowledge and experience in the field of integrity and durability of lightweight materials and structures. His research activities include fatigue and damage tolerance analysis of metallic and composite structures, damage characterisation of composite structures under low velocity impact, computational method development for structural health monitoring, and design of lightweight materials and structures. Dr Mehdi Yasaee - expert in fracture and damage analysis of composite materials. He specialises in developing new technologies to enhance the strength and damage integrity of fibre reinforced composites when subjected to high velocity impact. Dr Iman Dayyani - Expert in morphing structures, advanced composites and smart materials, homogenization and equivalent modelling techniques, finite element analysis, fluid structure interaction, multi-objective optimization and multidisciplinary designExternals Professor J Loaghlan - Professor Emeritus of Aerospace Structures, Editor in Chief of International Journal of Thin-Walled Structures, and Regional Editor of International Journal of Science and Technology, Scientia Iranica. Mr J Brown - considerable industrial experience in aerospace and automotive industries and provides research and CPD teaching in structural analysis, design of thin walled structures, finite elements and crashworthiness.Our teaching team work closely with business and have academic and industrial experience. Knowledge gained working with our clients is continually fed back into the teaching programme, to ensure that you benefit from the very latest knowledge and techniques affecting industry.Accreditation:Reaccreditation is being sought for the MSc in Advanced Lightweight Structures and Impact from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) & Royal Aeronautical Society (RAes) on behalf of the Engineering Council as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer. Candidates must hold a CEng accredited BEng/BSc (Hons) undergraduate first degree to comply with full CEng registration requirements. Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS)Course details:You will complete eight compulsory modules. The course employs a wide range of teaching methods designed to create a demanding and varied learning environment including structured lecture programmes, tutorials, case studies, hands-on computing, individual projects, and guest lectures.Group projectThe group project aims to address one of the greatest challenges graduates face, which is the lack of experience in dealing with the complexities of working within a design team. This part of the course takes place from March to May. It is student-led and consolidates the taught material which develops both technical and project management skills on an industrially relevant project.On successful completion of this module a student should be able to: Set objectives, plan and manage projects Evaluate a project brief set by a client Develop a set of project objectives appropriate to the client’s brief Plan and execute a work programme with reference to key project management processes (e.g. time management; risk management; contingency planning; resource allocation).The projects are designed to integrate knowledge, understanding and skills from the taught modules in a real-life situation. This module is typically delivered through collaboration with an industrial sponsor.Past Group Projects include: Redesign of a crashworthy helicopter troop seat Improved crash protection for a low volume sports car Martian hard surface landing system Design of a one-stage gas gun Investigation of injuries caused by Unmanned Aircraft (UAV) collision Structural design of a light duty modular electric vehicle Aircraft ditching onto water.Individual projectIndividual research project topics can vary greatly, allowing you to develop your own areas of interest. It is common for our industrial partners to put forward real-life practical problems or areas of development as potential research topics. This section of the course takes place from April to August.The research projects are devised to provide a research challenge allowing you to; define the problem, perform appropriate analysis and research, draw conclusions from your work, communicate your findings and conclusions and enhance your skills and expertise. This will enable you to plan a research project, demonstrate a thorough understanding of your chosen topic area, including a critical evaluation of existing work, design appropriate analysis, plan an independent learning ability and manage a well-argued thesis report demonstrating original thought.Past individual research projects: Bird strike assessment of composite jet engine fan blade Topology optimisation of automotive engine rail/crush can Crash and impact assessment of automotive batteries (HEV) Bonded joint failure between metal and composites Impact damage in composite sandwich structures Full-scale aircraft ditching.Cranfield University is a member of the European SOCRATES Mobility Programme and students may apply to undertake their Individual Research Project at other member institutions within Europe.Assessment:Taught modules 40%, Group project 20%, Individual research project 40%Funding Opportunities:To help students in finding and securing appropriate funding we have created a funding finder where you can search for suitable sources of funding by filtering the results to suit your needs. Bursaries may be available and are assessed on a case-by-case basisYour career:Industry driven research makes our graduates some of the most desirable in the world for recruitment by companies competing in the structural engineering sector, which forms a large worldwide industry.Students who enrol come from a variety of different backgrounds. Many have specific careers in mind, such as working in automotive or aerospace disciplines (structural design, or crash protection), materials development for defence applications, or to work in the field of numerical code developments/consultancy. Others decide to continue their education through PhD studies available within the University.This course provides graduates with the necessary skills to pursue a successful career in automotive, aerospace, maritime and defence sectors. This approach offers you a wide range of career choices as a structural engineer at graduation and in the future.Companies that have recruited graduates of this course include: Airbus Rolls-Royce Jaguar Land Rover Aston Martin.
