Online learning
TU Delft offers many online courses on subjects that matter that build on the strengths of our faculties. The online academic courses below are developed by the faculty of Aerospace Engineering.
Design of Lightweight Structures I: Composites & Metals
This course is for practicing engineers and managers in industries and engineering disciplines who are involved in the design process of lightweight structures or components. It will also act as a valuable refresher course for experienced engineers.
Weight reduction is a key factor in the development of materials and components for use in many industries. Lightweight structures are widely used for this purpose. However, these structures present challenges: they need to be light but also safe, durable and easy to maintain. How can this be done?
This course provides an introduction to lightweight structures, starting with the "trinity" - the interaction between shape design, base material and manufacturing. The evidence gained from both successes and failures demonstrates that the interaction between these three elements is crucial for successful designs and end products.
The course covers the design principles of lightweight structures; durability and fatigue; testing; manufacturing methods and mechanics. The main focus is on structures made with composites but use of metals will be addressed as well.
Instructor: Otto Bergsma (Associate professor in Fatigue, Damage Tolerance and Durability, Faculty of Aerospace Engineering)
Starts: 2 September 2019
Fatigue of Structures & Materials
For anyone working on development, design or strength justification of engineering structures this course will be invaluable. It will not only learn the methods and best practices, but also explain thoroughly the fundamentals that allow to assess the limits of current practices, and ways to overcome such limitations. In short, you will become a fatigue and damage tolerance specialist!
Fatigue fractures may occur as a consequence of cyclic loading structures. In particular within the context of fatigue and damage tolerance certification, engineers should have the knowledge and skills to analyse and assess fatigue life and fatigue performance. Fatigue fractures and related structural failures may be caused by a variety of factors, such as quality of applied materials, the production technology, the structural design, inappropriate reliability calculations, underestimations of load spectra, and inappropriate use of structures. With so many possible factors an integral and rigorous engineering approach is required.
This course will provide you with the knowledge and skills to identify potential critical locations and sources of poor fatigue performance; to develop strategies to avoid fatigue fractures and to improve fatigue performance of structures.
Instructor: René Alderliesten (Associate professor in Fatigue, Damage Tolerance and Durability, Faculty of Aerospace Engineering)
Starts: 2 September 2019