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Aluminium Design and Construction John Dwight

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large span, where self-weight is a major factor, but such a development<br />

has yet to appear.<br />

A more recent heavy structural development is in the offshore field.<br />

Here aluminium is gaining acceptance as a valid material for modules<br />

on fixed platforms, where the cost of installation critically depends on<br />

weight. Typical examples are helidecks <strong>and</strong> accommodation modules.<br />

The latter may be described as all-aluminium five-storey hotels, that<br />

are floated out <strong>and</strong> lifted into place in one piece, complete with cinema.<br />

In the late 1940s, some designers followed American earlier practice<br />

by specifying 2xxx-series alloy for large structures. In a few cases this<br />

was a disastrous choice. For example, a bascule bridge in such material<br />

at the docks in Sunderl<strong>and</strong>, UK, failed within a few years, due to corrosion<br />

in the severely polluted marine/industrial atmosphere. Another example<br />

was British crane jibs designed in the stronger form of 2xxx (superdural),<br />

using stress levels that were much too high. These failed by fatigue<br />

after a very short life. It was soon realised that the best alloy for civil<br />

engineering structures is usually the stronger type of 6xxx-series material,<br />

although the weldable kind of 7xxx is sometimes preferred. A notable<br />

example of 7xxx usage is in military bridges.<br />

1.5.4 Architecture<br />

An early installation of aluminium window-frames was on the University<br />

Library at Cambridge in 1936. Since then aluminium has become widely<br />

used in windows <strong>and</strong> other secondary components, including curtainwalling,<br />

patent-glazing <strong>and</strong> conservatories. Typical practice is to design<br />

a ‘suite’ of special extrusions, which enable assembly to be made by<br />

means of secret-fix mechanical joints instead of welding. The st<strong>and</strong>ard<br />

alloy is the weaker 6xxx type with its good surface finish, stiffness rather<br />

than strength being the main design factor. In recent years, aluminium<br />

window-frames have begun to lose out to plastic in the domestic market.<br />

<strong>Aluminium</strong> sheeting competes with powder-coated steel for the<br />

cladding of factory buildings, typically using a roll-formed trapezoidal<br />

profile in 3xxx-series alloy sheet. A different kind of application is in<br />

‘fully-supported’ roofing, where very high purity soft aluminium sheet<br />

is a valid alternative to lead, zinc or copper.<br />

1.5.5 L<strong>and</strong> transport<br />

Since 1945 aluminium has steadily replaced steel in railway carriages.<br />

Earlier construction consisted of conventional framing with applied sheet<br />

metal panels. This is now giving way to designs that employ wide<br />

hollow extrusions to produce an efficient double-skin all-welded form<br />

of construction. The stress levels have to be kept low, because of fatigue,<br />

making it economic to use the weaker sort of 6xxx alloy with its good<br />

Copyright 1999 by Taylor & Francis Group. All Rights Reserved.

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