Competing issues for aluminium alloys in structural engineering

摘要

This paper makes a contribution to explaining the main reasons for the choice of aluminium alloys as new material in those applications, where they can compete with steel. First of all, the basic physical, mechanical and technological differences from steel are out-lined in order to identify the main driving issues for justifying a switch from steel to aluminium. Significant results of the application of proper design criteria are shown by examples of many constructions made of aluminium alloys and built around the world in the last few decades in the field of buildings, bridges and special structures.