Use of aluminium in cars 2

[Marcie]

Hey,

I have to make an economic paper about the use of aluminium in the cars. (Like in the Audi A2)

Which kind of aluminium is used? Why is it used?
How do the join it with the other parts? Which aluminium-joint is use... All this questions and many others, should have been answered!

I hope you can help.

Greetings,
Marc

 

[wangsjw]

The best source for the information is from The Aluminum Association. Their web site is

http://www.aluminum.org.

In there, you can find many publications for automotive applications.

Good luck,

SJ

 

[TopFuel]

The aluminum in cars such as you mentioned is a non-tempered aluminum. The bends, curves, etc. in such body parts would be nasty in tempered aluminum (such as T-type aluminums).

http://www.aluminum.org

does have some good references. If that doesn't help, check out Audi's site. They should have some links of interest. Jack

 

[Morpheus81974]

"Why is it used?" - think about weight, price, energy absorption, profile manufacturing, EI, bending stiffness, buckling,...
Just calculate some sample profiles and you will see the pros and cons very fast. I made such calculations on our Formula Student race car last year. It take a day when you have the right formulas.

 

[VKB]

There are two concepts for using aluminum in the body structure of automobiles. First, known as the spaceframe concept, utilises aluminum in extruded and cast forms, welded together, to form a body structure. This structure provides the stiffness and the strength and is covered up using formed sheets to give the shape to the body (Audi A8 uses this concept). Extrusions are of 6xxx series aluminum heat treated to T6 temper to get full advantage of strength. Castings are of 3xxx series.

The other concept mimics the way steel car bodies are made. In this formed sheets (5xxx series aluminum)are spot welded together to form the monocoque body.

Apart from Aluminum Association website, a lot of information can be obtained from various announcements/advertisements of aluminum companies. Most of them (Alcoa, ALcan, Reynolds, Norsk Hydro ....) had aluminum car body program going on at one time or the other.