Design of Aluminum Structure

Design method in General Design of Tensile member Design of Compression member

General:
Aluminum is used in many architectural components of buildings such as window frame, handrail, awning, canopy, catwalk, and platforms, etc. It is relatively light weigh and low strength comparing to structural steel. But, it is easy to be fabricated and has good rust resistance.

Design specification:
Aluminum Design Manual, 2010 edition.

Common aluminum Shapes:

Similar to structural steel, aluminum has shapes from extrusions (angle, channel, W shape, etc), Sheet & plate, Rod & bar, Tube & pipe, etc. See Aluminum design manual Part V for section properties.

Material designation:
Aluminum material is defined by its alloy and temper. For example, 6061-T6 means 6061 alloy and T6 temper. 3004-H12 means 3004 alloy and H12 temper. The first of the four numbers defines the major alloying ingredients. For example, the major alloying ingredient of 3004 is manganese. The major alloying ingredient of 6061 is magnesium and silicon. Temper defines fabrication treatment. For example, H means strain-hardened and T6 means solution heat-treated and then artificially aged.

Mechanical properties:
Mechanical properties of aluminum used in structural calculations are F tu: Tensile ultimate strength. F ty: Tensile yield strength. F cy : Compressive yield strength, F su : Shear ultimate strength. Mechanical properties of some aluminum products from Aluminum Design Manual, Table A3.4 are shown below: Alloy-Temper 1100-H12 2014-T6 3003-H34 5454-O 6005-T6 Product Sheet, plate Sheet Drawn tube Extrusions Extrusions F tu ksi 14 66 35 31 38 F ty ksi 11 58 28 12 35 F cy ksi 11 11 27 12 34 F su ksi 10 11 20 19 24 E ksi 10,100 10,100 10,100 10,400 10,100

6061-T6 6061-T6 6063-T5

Drawn tube Pipe Extrusions

42 38 22

35 35 16

35 35 16

25 24 13

10,100 10,100 10,100

Other Engineering Properties:

Coefficient of thermal expansion: 13x10-6 / o F or 23x10-6 / o C Density: 0.10 lb/in 3 or 2.7x103 kg/m 3 .

Temperature limits:
Aluminum is sensitive to temperature. For example, 5083 alloy or similar aluminum shall not be subjected to temperatures greater than 150 o F. 6061-T5 is limited to 5 minutes for temperature greater than 450 o F.

Design Methods:
Design loads and load combinations
Building-type Structures: Use loads and load combinations from ASCE 7, Minimum Design loads for Building and Other Structures. Bridge-type Structures Use loads and load combinations from AASHTOs Guide Standard Specifications for Highway Bridges.

Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD)

Ru fRn Rn = required strength Rn = nominal strength f = resistance factor fRn = design strength

Allowable Strength Design (ASD)

Ru Rn /W W = safety factor Rn /W = allowable strength

Strength of Unwelded Member and Weld Member

It is common to have two or more aluminum members weld together welded together to form a new shape. The heat from weld reduces strength of material around welded area. The strength of member is reduced to account for welding in Aluminum Design Manual.

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