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Aluminum Alloys in Structural Applications

Aluminum Foam

Aluminum alloys with a wide range of properties are used in engineering structures. Alloy systems are classified by a number system (ANSI) or by names indicating their main alloying constituents (DIN and ISO).

The strength and durability of aluminum alloys vary widely, not only as a result of the components of the specific alloy, but also as a result of heat treatments and manufacturing processes. A lack of knowledge of these aspects has from time to time led to improperly designed structures and gained aluminum a bad reputation.

One important structural limitation of aluminum alloys is their fatigue strength. Unlike steels, aluminum alloys have no well-defined fatigue limit, meaning that fatigue failure eventually occurs, under even very small cyclic loadings. This implies that engineers must assess these loads and design for a fixed life rather than an infinite life.

Another important property of aluminum alloys is their sensitivity to heat. Workshop procedures involving heating are complicated by the fact that aluminum, unlike steel, melts without first glowing red. Forming operations where a blow torch is used therefore require some expertise, since no visual signs reveal how close the material is to melting.

Aluminum alloys, like all structural alloys, also are subject to internal stresses following heating operations such as welding and casting. The problem with aluminum alloys in this regard is their low melting point, which make them more susceptible to distortions from thermally induced stress relief. Controlled stress relief can be done during manufacturing by heat-treating the parts in an oven, followed by gradual cooling—in effect annealing the stresses.

The low melting point of aluminum alloys has not precluded their use in rocketry; even for use in constructing combustion chambers where gases can reach 3500 K. The Agena upper stage engine used a regeneratively cooled aluminum design for some parts of the nozzle, including the thermally critical throat region.

Another alloy of some value is aluminum bronze (Cu-Al alloy).