Aluminium Hull for Combat Vehicles?

[ramakrishna]

US Army and Alcoa partner to develop single-piece Aluminium hull for combat vehicles.

The aluminum hull is claimed to be the world's largest, and is scheduled to replace the existing assembled hulls of the service's ground combat vehicles, while offering even greater strength and durability.

Will aluminum hull can stand against improvised explosive devices (IEDs) threats??? share your thoughts ....

source: US Army and Alcoa partner to develop single-piece Aluminium hull for combat vehicles - Army Technology

 

[nirranj]

Most of the European Car makers are already using Aluminium in building Car body.

I think it depends on the material thickness and the type of ally to be used.

One disadvantage in building such a Aluminum hull is it is hard to weld aluminum together. So it wll be rivetting or bolting together.

 

[nirranj]

Aluminium alloys

Overview

Aluminium is a lightweight, reasonably cheap metal widely used for packaging and transport. It has only been widely available and used for the last 60 years.

Raw aluminium has low strength and high ductility (ideal for foil). Strength is increased by alloying, e.g. with Si, Mg, Cu, Zn, and heat treatment. Some alloys are cast, others are used for wrought products.
Aluminium is quite reactive, but protects itself very effectively with a thin oxide layer. The surface can be "anodised", to resist corrosion and to give decorative effects.


Design strengths:

High strength-to-weight ratio
High stiffness-to-weight ratio
High electrical and thermal conductivity
Easy to shape
Easy to recycle

Design weaknesses:

Difficult to arc weld

Typical Product

Aircraft
Bicycles
Car engines
"Space frame" car bodies
Drinks cans
Window frames

Environmental issues

Aluminium production uses lots of energy (4% of total US energy consumption!)
Aluminium is easily recycled - this only uses 1% of the energy needed to produce the metal.
Aluminium use in cars is growing rapidly - low weight means good fuel economy and low emissions metal.

 

[W.G.Ewald]

RN lost at least one aluminum warship by fire following missile (Exocet) strike during Falklands war.

 

[bennedose]

Aluminium burns with a bright flame. Many Indians who have seen the powder that goes into diwali crackers (specifically sparklers) may have noticed a silvery component which is Aluminium powder which produces a white flame. It has been theorized that when the planes were crashed into the twin towers - the hot burning aluminium contributed to the de-hydratation of concrete and weakened the structure. So I wonder what they plan to do about this nasty habit that Al has.

 

[Damian]

Such aluminium hulls will be most likely used only for lightweight vehicles.

Also, welding aluminium is not that hard either these days, there is plenty of lightweight AFV's with hull made completely from welded aluminium plates.