Publications for Download

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Whitepapers

Crashworthiness and Crash Avoidance (PDF)

As vehicle designers are continuously challenged to explore new technologies in pursuit of the historically conflicting goals of automotive safety and lightweighting, automotive aluminum with its superior strength-to-weight ratio and unmatched design and manufacturing flexibility is a proven material choice that provides automotive safety and weight reduction at the same time. Research proves that aluminum intensive vehicles (AIVs) can be designed to be safer than equivalent steel-based vehicles.

Environment (PDF)

Auto aluminum is increasingly the material of choice for automakers as they address growing concerns about the environment. This green technology allows manufacturers to maintain the size of their vehicles while reducing weight and improving fuel economy.

Reparability (PDF)

As automotive aluminum use continues to rise in the auto industry, so does the need for understanding and applying "best practices" when repairing auto aluminum components. A review of both the similarities - and differences - encountered during the repair of automotive aluminum panels compared with those of traditional materials shows that working with aluminum is different, not difficult.

Publications

Manual: Aluminum in Commercial Vehicles (Source: European Aluminium Association) (PDF)

Publication contains:

• Reasons for Use
• Rolled, Extruded and Cast Alloys Available to Manufacturers (includes their properties, mechanical characteristics, etc.)
• Design and Calculation of Structures, Fatigue and Collision Behavior
• Joining of Semi-Finished Products: Fabrication, Welding and Other Joining Techniques
• Corrosion Resistance of Aluminum Alloys Under Service Conditions
• Surface Treatment
• Cleaning and Repair

Aluminum for Automotive Body Sheet Panels (AT3) (PDF)

Publication contains:

• Properties of Aluminum Alloys for Auto Body Sheet Panels
• Design Considerations
• Forming Aluminum Auto Body Sheet
• Joining Considerations in Design
• Finishing

Practices for the Repair of Automotive Sheet Aluminum (AT4) (PDF)

Publication contains:

• Characteristics of Automotive Aluminum
• Applications for Auto Aluminum
• Metalworking
• Joining Methods
• Refinishing

Automotive Aluminum Crash Energy Management Manual (AT5) (PDF)

Publication contains:

• General Automotive Safety Introduction
• Vehicle Design Approaches for Crash Energy Management
• Aluminum Vehicle Design
• Energy Absorption in Automotive Aluminum by Axial and Bending Collapse
• Designing for Crash

Aluminum Automotive Extrusion Manual (AT6) (PDF)

Publication contains:

• Why Use Aluminum Alloy Extrusions?
• Properties if Aluminum Alloy Extrusions for Automotive Applications
• Designing with Aluminum Alloy Extrusions
• Forming Aluminum Alloy Extrusions
• Corrosion Resistance and Protection

Aluminum: The Corrosion Resistant Automotive Material (AT7) (PDF)

Publication contains:

• Aluminum in Autos - A Brief History
• Automotive Aluminum Products
• Key Characteristics of Aluminum
• Designing for Durability
• Anti-corrosion Design Tips