The MSc in Structural Integrity is a new course for the 2014 entry, focusing on the technical knowledge and skills most relevant to developing a career in technical and engineering roles where understanding and achieving structural integrity is a key component. The technology and applications of structural integrity are wide-ranging and constantly evolving. The course aims to create a synergy of relevant knowledge from the fields of materials, structural analysis and non-destructive testing and inspection. Major users include the oil and gas, power generation, petrochemical, nuclear and transportation sectors. The National Structural Integrity Research Centre (NSIRC), an education and research collaboration with Brunel University, is contributing to the course. Who should attend? The course is aimed at new graduates who wish to develop their careers in this direction, together with practising engineers who wish to gain a recognised postgraduate qualification in an important discipline. The overall objective is to produce high quality engineers with an in-depth knowledge of the science and technology of structural integrity, materials degradation, asset ageing and inspection. The underpinning theory and principles of these disciplines will be covered in a set of eight taught modules. Application of theory will be consolidated during a research project. The course aims to equip students with an ability to assess all aspects of asset integrity management, and the necessary knowledge and skills to analyse and act on the survey results obtained. Learning outcomes A graduate of this course will have integrated knowledge of materials performance, structural integrity and inspection engineering including: * Understanding what structural integrity is and how it is achieved and demonstrated * Awareness of the importance of good engineering specification and design * Knowledge of how materials perform, age and degrade in different service environments * Appreciation of the concept of a mitigation process and knowing how to manage integrity in-service * Ability to apply advanced structural analysis techniques to determine stresses * Knowledge of structural reliability analysis * An understanding of structural condition monitoring * Learning to develop appropriate risk based inspection, maintenance and service plans * Ability to choose between the capabilities and inherent limitations of different NDT techniques * Ability to detect and quantify structural integrity issues by utilising appropriate NDT techniques * Ability to make decisions when dealing with structures with flaws and other damage About Mechanical Engineering at Brunel The Mechanical Engineering subject area offers a number of MSc courses all accredited by professional institutes as appropriate additional academic study (further learning) for those seeking to become qualified to register as Chartered Engineers (CEng). Accrediting professional institutes vary by course and include the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), Energy Institute (EI) and Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE). Teaching in the courses is underpinned by research activities in aerospace engineering, automotive/motorsport engineering, solid and fluid mechanics, and energy & environment. Staff generate numerous publications, conference presentations and patents, and have links with a wide range of institutions both within and outside the UK. The discipline benefits from research collaboration with numerous outside organisations including major oil companies, vehicle manufacturers, and other leading industrial firms and governmental laboratories. We have links with at least six teaching hospitals and work with universities in China, Poland, Egypt, Turkey, Denmark, Japan, Brazil, Germany, Belgium, Greece, Italy and the US. There are 20 Industrial Master’s Studentships available for students on this course. Aims The course aims to produce engineers and technologists who can quickly make a contribution to achieving and assuring structural integrity in industry through materials testing, structural analysis, inspection, including state-of-the-art methods and NDT techniques, and fitness-for-service assessment. The key outputs are industry-ready, world-class engineers and technologists in structural integrity disciplines such as fail-safe design, corrosion control, structural health monitoring and ageing asset management.

This course allows engineering graduates to specialise in the subject area of Structural Integrity, and also for practitioners in relevant technical and engineering based fields to broaden their knowledge and understanding of all aspects of structural integrity (which they may not be quite familiar with), or to specialise further in this discipline. It allows engineers to build upon both the basic and advanced theories that underpin their disciplines. It is anticipated that since this course is geared for UK and overseas structural integrity practitioners, it will enhance all participants’ career prospects. In terms of the UK, participants would be attracted to the type of work carried out by specialist modelling and analysis consultants, government agencies, operators of large infrastructures, and large scale energy (including nuclear and oil and gas), transportation (eg. rail) and civil engineering firms working in this field. In terms of the overseas participants, it would enhance their skills base to work with international companies with specialist divisions in assets integrity management (AIM) and structural integrity management (SIM), large local engineering firms, and also with their own domestic regulatory set-ups. Careers The MSc in Structural Integrity course provides the required advanced theoretical knowledge and essential practical skills for graduates to develop their career in the field of service and consultancy in oil and gas, power generation, petrochemical, nuclear and transport sectors.