STRUCTURAL BEHAVIOUR OF ALUMINIUM ALLOY BEAMS TO EUROCODE 9
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11113/aej.v15.23052Keywords:
Aluminium alloy beams, Eurocode 9, SCIA Engineer, load resistance optimisation, conventional aluminium alloy sectionsAbstract
The increasing demand for lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and sustainable construction materials highlights the need for exploring alternatives to conventional steel, such as aluminium alloys. Despite their advantages, including a high strength-to-weight ratio and environmental friendliness, aluminium alloys face challenges such as lower modulus of elasticity, reduced buckling resistance, and higher deflection compared to steel. This study investigates the structural behaviour of aluminium alloy beams under Eurocode 9 design guidelines, aiming to address these limitations and identify optimisation strategies for their application in construction. Using manual calculation spreadsheet and SCIA Engineer software, structural analysis, validation, and parametric studies were conducted. In the first case study, 24 aluminium alloy specimens with varying cross-sections, alloy series, and beam lengths were compared to steel beams. The findings reveal that while steel beams generally exhibit higher flexural resistance, aluminium beams EN AW 7020 show superior performance within its series due to its high yield strength. Increased cross-section areas enhance flexural resistance, while longer beam lengths reduce buckling moment resistance and increased deflection. To address deflection and buckling challenges caused by lower modulus of elasticity of aluminium alloy, an optimal increase in flange width by a factor of 1.6 was proposed in second case study. In the third case study, conventional aluminium alloy sections (CS RHS and CS SHS) were evaluated for structural feasibility compared to standard hollow sections (RHS and SHS). Aluminium alloy sections outperformed hollow sections in bending and deflection, whereas CS RHS exhibited lower shear and buckling resistance than RHS due to smaller torsional constants and shear areas. This study underscores the potential of aluminium alloys as a viable alternative to steel, providing critical insights into their structural optimisation. The results offer valuable guidance for improving aluminium alloy beam designs, promoting their adoption in construction, and advancing sustainable engineering practices.
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