Scientific article: Aluminium alloys as a structural material

Over the last few decades, aluminium alloys have been increasingly used in the construction and automotive sector due to their favourable properties. Thereafter, many research projects such as the FLAMINGo have been carried out with the aim to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of their structural performance and develop accurate and reliable design formulae. The paper presents an overview of research studies on the mechanical properties of aluminium alloys under monotonic, cyclic and thermal loading conditions. Moreover, a considerable amount of experimental and numerical investigations focussing on the structural performance and design of aluminium columns, beams and beam-columns is reviewed. The performance of connections and composite aluminium-concrete members is also discussed. In FLAMINGo the aluminium alloys that are been developed for the electric vehicles can be replicated in the construction sector.

(October 2020, Engineering structures 227, Evangelia Georgantza, Michaela Gkantou and George S. Kamaris)