Course description
The aim of this course is to provide engineering investigators, who may not have experience in dealing with aircraft wreckage, the fundamental skills necessary to undertake a material or structures investigation.
The course gives the delegate an understanding of the relevant failure modes, the ability to inspect wreckage to understand the most likely failure scenarios, and to be proficient in obtaining and evaluating information supplied by material forensic specialists. This course brings together considerable expertise of accident investigators and forensic experts to deliver a level of practical training that is world-class.
Upcoming start dates
Suitability - Who should attend?
The course is suitable for delegates from the following organisations:
• Civil accident investigation agencies
• Military
• Airlines and operators
• Manufacturers and maintainers
• Forensic materials engineering.
Outcome / Qualification etc.
What you will learn
On successful completion of the course, the delegate will be able to:
- Examine aircraft wreckage to interpret the failure features
- Describe the failure modes and visual characteristics associated with material failures
- Inspect a fracture surface to make a judgement on the evidence available
- Evaluate the information supplied from a forensic specialist
- Plan the different aspects of a structural investigation.
Training Course Content
Core content
- Fundamentals of laboratory examinations and capabilities
- The principles behind loads, stresses and strain
- Stress concentrations - the influence on failure characteristics
- Static failures - Theory and failure characteristics
- Fatigue - Theory and failure characteristics
- Composite materials - Failure characteristics
- Adhesives and bonding failures
- Wooden materials - Failure characteristics
- Gas Turbine specific failures
- Sequencing in-flight breakups
- Sampling techniques and wreckage handling.
Course delivery details
Course structure
The course begins with lectures and case studies based on key failure modes and their visually recognisable failure characteristics. Participants will then be involved in practical exercises to consolidate learning through the use of aircraft wreckage, specimens and samples. The week will culminate in the examination of an aircraft that had failed due to an in-flight breakup. Delegates will be able to receive feedback on their performance during the week.
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Cranfield University
Cranfield is a specialist postgraduate university that is a global leader for education and transformational research in technology and management. We have many world-class, large-scale facilities, including our own global research airport, which offers a unique environment for transformational education...