Program Overview
Composite Material Structures Course
The analysis and design procedures of composite material structures are considerably more complex than those of their metallic counterparts. This is due to the anisotropic nature of typical laminated composite materials. To achieve safe and reliable structural systems, the composites designer/analyst needs to have a sound knowledge and firm grasp of the underlying principles of the structural response of composite materials.
Course Overview
This course aims to provide the basic knowledge and understanding of the mechanics of composite materials utilized in advanced engineering structures (aerospace, naval, automotive, etc.) in order to permit their efficient use in design applications.
At a Glance
- Dates: 11 - 15 May 2026
- Duration: 1 week
- Location: Cranfield campus
- Cost: ｣1,890 (includes refreshments and lunch during the day, but accommodation is not included and must be booked separately)
Course Structure
This five-day course includes lectures and hands-on lab-based computer sessions to support the design and optimization of different composite structures, developed during the theoretical sessions and validated against available analytical solutions.
What You Will Learn
This course aims to:
- Enhance awareness of engineers and designers of the problem areas pertaining to composites and to promote good design practice
- Provide an understanding of the underlying principles and techniques associated with the stress analysis and strength predictions of composite material structures
- Provide a hands-on experience of the solution methods and procedures pertaining to the analysis of real structural problems
- Illustrate the influence of fibre orientation and stacking sequence in laminated construction in determining the optimal response to specified loading
- Introduce the basics of impact damage and crashworthiness in composites
Core Content
- Introduction to Composite Materials
- Analysis of an Individual Ply
- Macro-mechanics of a Laminate
- Fatigue and Damage Tolerance of Composite Structures
- Repair of Composite Structures
- Failure Analysis of Composite Structures
- Impact of Composite Structures
- Crashworthiness of Composite Structures
- Structural Stability of Composite Structures
- Finite Element Modelling of Composite Structures
- Practical FEM - ABAQUS
Who Should Attend
This course is aimed at those who are interested in the application of composite materials for the development of efficient lightweight structural designs. The course would be suitable for new and experienced engineers and designers in the field of composites wishing to gain a sound knowledge base of the mechanics of composite materials and to gain hands-on experience of the analysis methods and procedures pertaining to actual composite structural elements.
Target Audience
- Military and Naval engineering staff
- Aircraft/Aerospace engineers
- Automotive/Racing car engineers
- Civil and Structural engineers
- Mechanical engineers
- Research engineers
- Stressing and Design engineers
- Certification engineers
- Accident investigation staff
- Design and Technical management personnel
Speakers
- Dr. Hessam Ghasemnejad
- Dr. Mehdi Yasaee
- Dr. Iman Dayyani
- Dr. Yigeng Xu
- Mr. Jason Brown
- Prof. Joseph Loughlan
Concessions
- 20% discount for Cranfield Alumni
- 10% discount when registering 3 or more delegates from the same organization at the same time
Accommodation Options and Prices
An exclusive accommodation package at Mitchell Hall hotel is available, located on campus, with all rooms en-suite and available on a half-board basis from Sunday to Friday, costing ｣580. Alternatively, delegates may make their own arrangements at a nearby hotel.
Location and Travel
Cranfield University is situated in Bedfordshire, close to the border with Buckinghamshire, midway between Bedford and Milton Keynes, and conveniently located between junctions 13 and 14 of the M1. London Luton, Stansted, and Heathrow airports are 30, 90, and 90 minutes away by car, respectively.