aluminum vs. chromoly tubing strengths

[rockthemullet]

I'm looking to build some suspension pieces out of aluminum tubing. I need to find a comparison chart or something along those lines for aluminum vs. chromoly. Looking for aluminum tubing that will be as strong or stronger than 1-1/8" 0.83 wall chromoly.

Have anything for me guys? Links and whatnot would be great.

~Eric

[Sean]

.200 wall would be close in 6061 t6. However welding that properly I would go chromoly over aluminum.

[Team Z Motorsports]

corect if the aluminum is welded incorrectly it will break!

[Sean]

Even welded correctly it will break. Ask the hundreds of kids who race BMX who have frame failures every year.

corect if the aluminum is welded incorrectly it will break!

[90blknotch]

chomoly welded incorrectly will break too! sorry, had to say it.

[90blknotch]

Get a machinist handbook or bosch's automotive referance guide...should give you everything you need!

Depending on what values you are concerned with you can get some material property infor here:

http://www.matweb.com/search/PropertySearch.aspx

Make sure you are looking at the correct properties; just because it harder doesnt make it "stronger".

[Sean]

The faituge life of chromoly is like 40x that of aluminum.

chomoly welded incorrectly will break too! sorry, had to say it.

[rockthemullet]

Thanks for the link, 90blknotch! I definitely know the difference between harder and stronger as well

Sean, I'm still playing with the idea. I wouldn't mind doing billet or cast to avoid the welding but thats money. Its really just something I'm toying with, the car using these would be very light and would be constantly taken apart and put back together so fatigue issues would be monitored.

~Eric

[Sean]

a mildsteel 1008 dom tubbing or 4130 chromoly could be light enough that it would be irrelevant if the structure was properly designed.

Thanks for the link, 90blknotch! I definitely know the difference between harder and stronger as well

Sean, I'm still playing with the idea. I wouldn't mind doing billet or cast to avoid the welding but thats money. Its really just something I'm toying with, the car using these would be very light and would be constantly taken apart and put back together so fatigue issues would be monitored.

~Eric