Re: Aluminum and Mild Steel
Originally Posted by
FernTJ
Aluminum has about 1/3 the Modulus of Elasticity that steel has (10 million psi vs 29 million psi). So for a given beam loading aluminum has about 3 times more deflection than the same cross section of steel beam.
Aluminum a higher yield stress than steel (43000 psi vs 36000 psi) so it can take more stress before yielding (permanent deformation).
Aluminum and steel have very similar ultimate tensile strengths (55000 psi vs 58000 psi) so in tension or sheer there isn't very much strength advantage in steel.
Aluminum is about 1/3 the weight of steel at .101 pounds per cubic inch vs .284 pounds for steel.
It is worth noting that aluminum is more prone to suffering from the heat affects of welding, which may lead to joint failures and it costs more per pound. If you aren't going to pull the trailer a very long distance you may be better off staying with steel.
I found this interesting - I will have to push some extraneous info out of my brain and add this to my limited storage area
Dave J.
Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~
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