Professional diploma800 h · Online · 8 modules

Professional Diploma in Advanced Composite Materials

This professional diploma gives you a complete command of composite materials, from design and manufacturing through to analysis. You will work with resin systems, infusion processes and testing methods, using examples from shipbuilding, boatbuilding and offshore.

Duration800 h
ModeOnline
Start1 December
Modules8
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Prior knowledge check

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About the programme

What is the Professional Diploma in Advanced Composite Materials?

This professional diploma offers comprehensive training in composite materials, from their design and manufacture through to analysis and industrial application.

You will learn to select, process and characterise high-performance composites for sectors such as shipbuilding, aerospace, automotive and energy. The aim is to prepare you to innovate in light, strong structures that meet the demands of today's engineering.

Programme typeProfessional diploma
ModeOnline
Duration800 hours
Modules8
Start1 December

Programme highlights

  • Design and simulation: model and predict how composites behave under different loads and conditions.
  • Advanced manufacturing: master moulding, laminating and curing techniques to produce high-quality parts.
  • Analysis and characterisation: apply destructive and non-destructive testing to assess mechanical and thermal properties.
  • Industrial applications: study real cases and carry out practical projects in leading-edge sectors.
Syllabus

Syllabus of the Professional Diploma in Advanced Composite Materials

8 modules. Select a module to see its content.

Module 1

Fundamentals of Composite Materials, Matrices and Reinforcements

  • 1.1. Introduction to composite materials: classification, microstructure, mechanical advantages and comparison with metal alloys
  • 1.2. Reinforcing fibres: properties of carbon fibre, glass fibre (E, S, AR), aramid (Kevlar) and natural/basalt fibres
  • 1.3. Thermoset polymer matrices: epoxy, polyester, vinyl ester and phenolic resins and curing mechanisms
  • 1.4. Advanced thermoplastic matrices: PEEK, PEKK, PPS, polyamides and advantages in impact toughness and recyclability
  • 1.5. Reinforcement architecture: bidirectional fabrics, unidirectionals (UD), tapes, multiaxials (NCF), braids and chopped strand mat
  • 1.6. Fibre–matrix interphase: surface chemistry, coupling agents (sizing), micromechanical adhesion and load transfer mechanisms
  • 1.7. Core materials for sandwich structures: synthetic foams (PVC, PMI, PET), aluminium/Nomex honeycomb and balsa wood
  • 1.8. Natural fibres and sustainability
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 2

Micromechanics and Macromechanics of Laminae and Laminates

  • 2.1. Micromechanics of the lamina: rules of mixtures for estimating elastic properties, longitudinal and transverse moduli and Poisson's ratio
  • 2.2. Orthotropic and anisotropic behaviour: stress–strain relationships, elastic stiffness matrix and principal axis transformations
  • 2.3. Classical Laminate Theory (CLT): calculation of the [A], [B], [D] matrices, extension–bending–twisting coupling
  • 2.4. Stacking sequences: design of symmetric, balanced and quasi-isotropic laminates and prevention of residual distortion
  • 2.5. Failure criteria for orthotropic laminae: evaluation using Tsai-Hill, Tsai-Wu, Maximum Stress/Strain and advanced Hashin/Puck criteria
  • 2.6. Delamination analysis and damage tolerance: interlaminar fracture mechanics, opening modes (Mode I, II, III) and fracture toughness energy (GIC/GIIC)
  • 2.7. Buckling and post-buckling of panels: behaviour of thin composite plates under in-plane compression and shear
  • 2.8. Classical laminate theory
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 3

Composite Materials Fabrication and Manufacturing Processes

  • 3.1. Hand lay-up and contact moulding (Hand Lay-up / Spray-up): mould preparation, release agents, fabric cutting and manual consolidation
  • 3.2. Prepreg technology: handling of prepreg tapes and fabrics, cold storage and vacuum-bag curing cycle
  • 3.3. Autoclave curing: pressure, temperature and vacuum diagrams; exotherm control and compaction of structural parts
  • 3.4. Resin infusion processes (VARI / VARTM): design of the resin distribution network, flow restrictors, vacuum ports and filling strategy
  • 3.5. Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM and Light-RTM): pressure injection into rigid closed moulds, viscosity control and gel time
  • 3.6. Continuous processes: pultrusion of structural profiles and filament winding for pressure vessels and pipes
  • 3.7. Automated manufacturing: Automated Fibre Placement (AFP) and Automated Tape Laying (ATL) in the aerospace industry
  • 3.8. Automated manufacturing with fibre placement
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 4

Machining, Assembly, Joining and Repair of Composite Structures

  • 4.1. Machining and cutting of laminates: CNC milling, specialised drilling, diamond/PCD tools and control of fraying and delamination
  • 4.2. Abrasive water jet cutting (AWJC): cutting parameters, edge quality and prevention of water ingress into the core
  • 4.3. Adhesive bonding of composites: surface preparation, selection of structural adhesives (epoxies, acrylics, polyurethanes) and joint design
  • 4.4. Permanent mechanical joints: riveting and bolting of composite parts, bearing stress distribution and galvanic corrosion
  • 4.5. Hybrid assembly: combination of bonded and bolted joints (bonded-bolted joints) to optimise peel loads
  • 4.6. Structural repair of composites: removal of damaged areas, scarf repair, stepped patches and in-situ curing with heat blankets
  • 4.7. In-service damage tolerance: assessment of barely visible impact damage (BVID) and moisture/UV degradation
  • 4.8. Structural adhesive bonding
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 5

Characterisation, Destructive Testing and Quality Control

  • 5.1. Static mechanical testing: ASTM standards for tension (D3039), compression (D3410/D6641), flexure (D790) and in-plane shear (D5379)
  • 5.2. Toughness characterisation tests: double cantilever beam (DCB) test for Mode I and end-notched flexure (ENF) test for Mode II
  • 5.3. Thermal and physical analysis: Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) and determination of the glass transition temperature (Tg)
  • 5.4. Fatigue testing and dynamic behaviour: S-N curves for composites, flexural fatigue, drop-weight impact and flame resistance
  • 5.5. Determination of fibre content and porosity: acid digestion, muffle furnace ignition and gas pycnometry methods
  • 5.6. Metrology and dimensional tolerance: 3D scanning, photogrammetry and measurement of post-cure distortion/warpage due to residual stresses
  • 5.7. In-line production quality control: raw material inspection, out-time and traceability of resin/fibre batches
  • 5.8. Fatigue testing of composites
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 6

Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) and Damage Inspection

  • 6.1. Ultrasonic testing (UT): pulse-echo ultrasound, through-transmission, Phased Array (PAUT) and detection of delaminations and porosity
  • 6.2. Shearography inspection: principles of laser interferometry for detecting disbonds in sandwich structures and cores
  • 6.3. Infrared thermography: active, passive, pulsed and guided-wave thermography for rapid inspection of large surfaces
  • 6.4. X-ray radiography and Computed Tomography (CT): micro-CT for 3D reconstruction of fibre orientation, voids and microcracks
  • 6.5. Optical and acoustic inspection: acoustic emission for real-time monitoring of crack initiation during structural tests
  • 6.6. Electromagnetic methods: eddy current testing applied to conductive carbon fibre laminates
  • 6.7. Acceptance and rejection criteria: definition of allowable defect sizes, attenuation maps and NDT certification reports
  • 6.8. Thermography and ultrasonic testing of composites
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 7

Advanced Structural Design, Optimisation and FEA Simulation

  • 7.1. Computational modelling in FEA software: representation of laminae, shell elements and continuum laminated solids
  • 7.2. Definition of material properties in FEA: assignment of orthotropic stiffness matrices and orientation of the local coordinate system
  • 7.3. Progressive failure simulation: continuum damage models (CDM), stiffness degradation and crack initiation and propagation criteria
  • 7.4. Topology and laminate optimisation: optimisation of the stacking sequence, variable thicknesses (tapering) and fibre orientation
  • 7.5. Design of advanced sandwich structures: optimisation of core thickness, resistance to face wrinkling and shear
  • 7.6. Simulation of manufacturing processes: modelling of resin flow in infusion, heat transfer in the autoclave and prediction of springback distortion
  • 7.7. Structural health monitoring (SHM): integration of fibre-optic sensors (FBG) and piezoelectric sensors embedded in the laminate
  • 7.8. Failure criteria and damage tolerance
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 8

Capstone Project: Design, Manufacture and Validation of a Composite Component

  • 8.1. Definition of the case study: selection of a critical aerospace, automotive, marine or wind energy component
  • 8.2. Definition of requirements and loads: establishment of operating and environmental conditions, weight constraints and safety factor
  • 8.3. Structural design and simulation (FEA): 3D modelling, laminate optimisation, material selection and verification of failure criteria
  • 8.4. Selection of the manufacturing process: mould design, definition of the curing/infusion strategy and selection of consumables
  • 8.5. Quality control and NDT inspection plan: specification of acceptance tests, ultrasonic inspection matrix and mechanical test plan
  • 8.6. Technical and economic feasibility analysis: estimation of material costs, production cycle time, calculation of CapEx, OpEx and recyclability
  • 8.7. Presentation of the validated component
  • 8.8. Final presentation: defence of the comprehensive engineering project before a committee specialised in composite materials and advanced engineering
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Plan your pace

Duration and format of the Professional Diploma in Advanced Composite Materials

It is 800 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.

4 h30 h
With 12 h per week
15
months to finish
67 weeks
weeks in total

This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the instalment plan.

Faculty

Academic leadership and faculty

The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programmes.

Dra. Marina AlcoverDra. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Ing. Diego CifuentesIng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerDr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dra. Nuria LlobregatDra. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Ing. Javier BañulsIng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Ing. Sofía MarquinaIng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Ing. Tomás RieraIng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration Coordinator
Objectives

Objectives of the Professional Diploma in Advanced Composite Materials

01Design and optimise innovative structures using agile methodologies and advanced simulation to predict their behaviour.
02Implement and validate efficient manufacturing processes, reducing bottlenecks and cycle times with Lean Manufacturing.
03Select and characterise the optimal composite materials, considering mechanical and chemical properties and cost.
04Solve complex engineering problems by analysing risks and cost-benefit and integrating technical, economic and environmental factors.
05Manage R&D and innovation projects with agile methodologies such as Scrum and Kanban.
06Lead multidisciplinary teams, fostering communication, collaboration and conflict resolution.
Careers

Career opportunities after the Professional Diploma in Advanced Composite Materials

01Design and development engineer for composite components
02Manufacturing specialist (laminating, moulding, pultrusion and other processes)
03Quality control technician using NDT and failure analysis
04Researcher and developer of new materials
05Technical consultant on the selection and application of composites
06Maintenance and repair engineer, particularly in aeronautics and wind energy
07Technical sales engineer for composite materials and related products
08Entrepreneur in the design, manufacture or repair of composite products
Frequently asked questions

Questions about the Professional Diploma in Advanced Composite Materials

Advanced composite materials.

Yes. The programme includes ECDIS/Radar-ARPA/BRM with port, ocean, fog, heavy-weather and SAR scenarios.

Online with live sessions; hybrid option for simulator placements/internships through partnership agreements.

Advanced composite materials, including fibre-reinforced polymers (FRP), ceramic materials, metals and their combinations.

Functional SMCP is recommended. We provide support materials for standard phraseology.

Yes, with a related qualification or experience in maritime/port operations. The admission interview will confirm your suitability.

Optional (3–6 months) through Companies & Partnerships and the Alumni Network.

Simulator exercises (rubrics), passage plans, SOPs, checklists, micro-tests and an applied master's thesis.

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Online admission

Admission process

No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enrol in the same session.

Entry requirements
  • Profile: aimed at students, technicians and professionals who want to broaden their knowledge. Specific requirements may vary depending on the programme.
  • Language: taught in English; some technical terminology and resources may appear in other languages.
  • Documentation: valid identity document and complete personal details. Depending on the level, additional academic or professional documentation may be requested.
  • Technical requirements for online study: computer with a stable internet connection, an up-to-date browser, a PDF reader and basic office tools. Some programmes require specific software.
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  2. 02
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  3. 03
    Enrolment
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