Discover how fibre orientation and laminate design determine composite performance, and learn to design and manufacture lightweight, strong structures.
The course Composites provides an introduction to the mechanical behaviour and manufacturing of continuous fibre-reinforced composite materials. The course focuses on layered structures, or laminates, built from thin fibre-reinforced polymer plies. By selecting the orientation of each ply, engineers can tailor the material to specific loading conditions. This offers significant design opportunities, but can also result in highly anisotropic material behaviour and specific manufacturing challenges.
You will learn how the properties of individual composite plies depend on the fibres, polymer matrix and their volume fractions. Using Classical Lamination Theory, you then analyse the thermo-mechanical behaviour of laminates composed of multiple plies with different fibre orientations. The course also covers failure behaviour, manufacturing technologies and industrial applications. Through design exercises and a laboratory activity, you apply the theory to composite products such as drive shafts and hydrogen storage tanks.
Continuous fibre-reinforced composites combine low weight with high strength and stiffness. This makes them valuable for applications in industries such as aerospace, automotive engineering as well as wind energy Unlike conventional materials, their mechanical properties depend strongly on fibre direction, laminate structure and manufacturing quality.
Professionals working with composites therefore need to understand both material behaviour and production processes. Appropriate choices regarding fibres, matrices, fibre orientations and manufacturing technologies directly influence the performance of a product. This course provides the foundation needed to make and evaluate these choices.
This is a regular master’s course in which both students and professionals can participate. The contents are spread across Q1 and Q2, with approximately one lecture per week.
The course introduces composite materials, manufacturing methods, micromechanics, Classical Lamination Theory and failure analysis.
Practical exercises allow participants to apply the theory to engineering design problems. These may include designing the laminate lay-up of a composite drive shaft or hydrogen storage tank based on specified loading requirements. The course also includes a laboratory activity focused on composite manufacturing or mechanical testing. Several dates and times may be offered for this activity, allowing participants to enrol in an available session.
The course covers:
Details and assessment:
This course is intended for professionals who want to understand, design or manufacture continuous fibre-reinforced composite structures. Typical profiles include, but are not limited to, mechanical engineers, structural engineers, materials engineers, product designers, manufacturing engineers, R&D professionals and technical specialists working in aerospace, automotive engineering, energy, transport or advanced manufacturing.
A bachelor’s degree in Engineering is required. The course is particularly relevant for professionals who want to connect the mechanical analysis of composite laminates with material selection, manufacturing choices and product design. Basic experience with Matlab, Python or comparable analytical tools may be useful when working on calculations and design exercises.
If you successfully complete the course, you will receive a microcredential. This microcredential is a digital record confirming that you have passed the assessment components of the regular master’s course and achieved the corresponding learning outcomes.
You may also participate without completing the assessments. If you choose this option, or do not pass all assessment components, you will receive a digital certificate of participation.
Start date: September (Q1)
Total duration: September until January (excluding resits) (140 hour study load)
Number of teaching days/sessions: Approximately one lecture per week, supplemented by practical exercises, design assignments, a laboratory activity and a final examination
Total programme fee: €2067.15 (5 ECTS × €413.43 per ECTS)
Programme type: Master course
Location: University of Twente, Enschede, NL
Language of instruction: English
Admission requirements: A bachelor’s degree in Engineering is required. Basic analytical and engineering mechanics skills are recommended. Familiarity with Matlab, Python or a comparable tool may be useful but is not listed as a formal requirement.
Study materials: Handouts provided by the lecturers.
Teacher: