This three-day introductory course provides engineers with a fundamental understanding of how stresses and strains develop in materials and components, and how these can lead to different modes of structural failure.

The course introduces the principles that govern material behaviour under mechanical loading and explains the methods used to determine and interpret stresses in engineering components. Participants will examine the mechanisms of yielding, brittle fracture, fatigue, and instability, with particular emphasis on modern analytical approaches based on fracture mechanics. The behaviour of fibre-reinforced composite materials and lightweight structures is also explored. Laboratory demonstrations, experimental exercises, and research-informed case studies underpin the theoretical learning and enable participants to interpret and predict failure mechanisms in real-world engineering applications through an understanding of stress analysis and material behaviour, thereby strengthening both conceptual understanding and practical competence.

At a glance

  • Dates
    • 22 - 24 Jun 2026
  • Duration3 days
  • LocationÃå±±ÂÖ¼é at Shrivenham
  • Cost£1,350 Concessions available

What you will learn

On successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

  1. Explain how stresses and strains develop in engineering components and how they relate to modes of material failure.
  2. Apply basic methods for determining and interpreting stress distributions in structural materials.
  3. Evaluate failure criteria and apply them to predict the onset of yielding, brittle fracture, fatigue, and instability.
  4. Demonstrate an understanding of the mechanical behaviour of composite and lightweight materials under varying loading conditions.
  5. Relate theoretical and experimental observations to materials selection and structural design decisions.

Core content

  • Stress, strain, and material response under tension, compression, and torsion,
  • Structure of materials and influence on mechanical behaviour,
  • Experimental stress analysis techniques and laboratory demonstration,
  • Mohr’s circles for stress and strain,
  • Criteria for predicting ductile and brittle failure,
  • Instability and buckling mechanisms,
  • Fundamentals of fatigue and fatigue-life estimation,
  • Introduction to fracture mechanics and its applications,
  • Behaviour of composite and lightweight materials,
  • Corrosion and stress interactions,
  • Materials selection for structural performance and durability.

Who should attend

This course is appropriate to officers and civilians in the MOD, research establishments and industry who need to have an understanding of the failure of structural materials in their work which includes research, design, development or production.

Concessions

A limited number of MOD sponsored places are available.

How to apply

To apply for this course please use the online application form.

Apply now

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