The SkyCiv Aluminum design software, offers powerful and detailed design checks as per four design standards. These standards include AS 1664, ADM-2020, BS EN 1999-1-1 and CSA 157-17. So the user can provide simple input and receive quick and clear results back. Although each standard if different, the aluminum tool includes checks for:

• Shear checks (in both directions): Calculating the beam's shear strength and comparing it to the applied design load.
• Bending checks (in both directions): Calculating the beam's bending strength in both directions and comparing the result to the design load.
• Tension Checks: Calculating the strength in tension and the utility of the design based on user inputted design loads.
• Compression Checks: Calculating compression in columns for axial, gross section, and the minor axis.
• Combined Checks: Calculates relevant combined checks such as combined compression and bending, combined tension and bending or combined shear compression and bending

These checks are essential for ensuring the safety and integrity of the structure, as they help to identify any potential weak points or failure modes that could compromise the column or beam's load capacity.

The above aluminum calculator is a simplified and limited version of SkyCiv's full aluminum design software. While the calculator provides a comprehensive analysis of the beam's load capacity and performs checks on the aluminum section for shear (bi-axial), bending (bi-axial), compression, and tension, the full software offers a more comprehensive set of features and capabilities for aluminum design. Including:

SkyCiv's Aluminium Design Software, includes a full integration with SkyCiv's Structural 3D Analysis software:

The above software also includes detailed and comprehensive design reports which make it easy for the engineer to trace the calculations of the software allowing you full transparency of your calculations. These are very handy if you're looking for an aluminium design example, or want to double check your designs, as the full calculations are displayed. These design reports are included in the premium version, which show clear and comprehensive aluminium design reports:

Aluminum beam capacity is determined by several factors, including:

• Material: The strength and type of aluminum alloy used to construct the beam play a major role in determining its capacity.
• Section Dimensions: The width, height, and shape of the beam cross-section also play a role in its capacity. A wider and taller beam will generally have a higher capacity than a narrower, shorter one of the same material. Obviously, the section thickness also plays a critical role in the member's strength. Experiment with the above calculator to see how dimensions affect the capacity and utility.
• Span Length: The span length of a beam, or the distance between its supports, can also affect its capacity. As the span length increases, the beam will have to support more weight and become weaker, particularly to buckling and compressive forces.
• Load Concentration: The type of load applied to a beam can also impact its strength and overall capacity. For instance, a point load, which is a concentrated load applied at a single point, is more challenging for a beam to support than a uniform load since there are considerable shear concerns as all the force is concentrated at a single point. Distributed loads are, as defined, distributed. So more of the material is being used to support the load.
• Load Application: The manner in which the load is applied to the beam can also play a role in its capacity. For example, a beam that is loaded from the top will have a different capacity than a beam that is loaded laterally. For shapes such as I beams, this will be reflected in the member's strong and a weak axes.

Aluminum design is the process of designing aluminum elements such as beams or columns. Aluminum is a common design material due to its versatility, strength, anti-corrosion advantages and lightweight nature. It can be easily shaped and molded into complex and custom shapes which makes it suitable for a wide range of applications.

To perform aluminum design, engineers need to assess the strength of the element and determine whether or not there is sufficient capacity to withstand the required design loads. These could be loads from wind, snow, dead loads and live loads. Engineers generally either use hand calculations or software to perform these calculations.

There are a few steps in designing aluminum beams. It usually starts with identifying the load and span requirements before moving onto selecting the appropriate size and type of aluminum beam. Finally the engineer will determine whether the member is strong enough for the required design loads. Here is a more detailed overview of the process:

1. Determine the load and span requirements: The first step in designing aluminum beams is to determine the required loads and required span of the beam. This includes calculating the expected loads (such as dead, snow, wind, live etc..) that the beam will need to support. These loads can be combined, or taken as final worst case design loads (such as in this tool). These factors directly determine the size and type of beam that will be required.
2. Select the appropriate size and type of beam: Aluminum beams come in a range of sizes and shapes, including I-beams, H-beams, and rectangular beams. The size and shape of the beam should be chosen based on the load and span requirements. Tools like the one on this page, are a great resource for designing the beam. Users can specify different sizes and types and re-run the calculations to determine the utility of the member.
3. Ensure proper support and anchoring: It is important to ensure that the aluminum beam is properly supported and anchored to prevent it from buckling or failing under load. This may include using additional supports or anchors at the ends of the beam, or adding bracing to the beam to increase its stability.
4. Design considerations: These may include the overall usage or risk category of the structure, the environmental conditions the beam will be exposed to, and any additional features or requirements, such as corrosion resistance or fire resistance. For instance, aluminum is quite a corrosion-resistant material and good in applications where salt water is present. Additionally, aluminum is fairly fire resistance but by no means is it completely fireproof (aluminum will melt at around 660 degrees Celsius). These are all important considerations when deciding whether aluminum is the right material of choice for a particular design.
5. Use design software: Such as this aluminum design tool (which is also integrated with our structural analysis software), engineers will typically use structural engineering software as a faster/more efficient way to calculate and design these members.

• Lightweight: Aluminum is much lighter than other metals, such as steel, making it easier to install or transport.
• Strong: Despite its lightweight nature, aluminum is strong and durable, making it suitable for use in a variety of applications.
• Versatile: Aluminum can be easily shaped and extruded into a wide range of forms and sizes, making it suitable for a variety of design applications. Particularly when working with glass installation.
• Corrosion-resistant: Aluminum alloys are corrosion resistant in atmosphere (not so much when submerged in water) which makes them a suitable application where it is exposed to damaging elements such as sea salt.
• Recyclable: Aluminum is usually 100% recyclable, making it generally more environmentally friendly than some other materials.

• Expensive: Aluminum can be more expensive than other materials, such as steel. However, this depends on the application and sometimes the benefits listed above can offset some of additional cost of using this material.
• Limited applications: Aluminum is not suitable for use in certain cases where the member is under high stresses or is exposed to high temperatures. Typically steel will perform better in such applications.
• Difficult to work with: It can be difficult to connect or join with other materials.

• ADM 2020 Aluminum Design Software
• Eurocode 9 Aluminium Design Software
• CSA 157-27 Aluminium Design Software
• AS/NZS 1664 Aluminium Design Software

SkyCiv's Aluminum Member Design Software supports the design of Hollow Rectangular Sections, I Sections, C Sections and Hat Sections.

A non-exhaustive list of limitations and assumptions for the ADM 2020 version of the calculator is shown below:

• Section properties for standard sections are taken from the ADM 2015 section property tables.
• Torsion checks are currently not supported.
• Sections with stiffeners are not currently supported.
• The member buckling check to Clause E.2 is currently based on flexural buckling only (E2.1). Torsional and Flexural-Torsional Buckling is not currently considered (E2.2).
• Bearing checks are currently not considered.
• 0.9 Fcy only applies to the Unwelded H temper material. Looking at AS1664 for comparison, this is consistent with that code (all other alloys Fcy = Fty)
• Plate element width conservatively includes the width of the radius (refer to ADM 2020 Clause B.5.1).
• Individual plates are considered to have consistent thickness (no varying thickness in an individual plate). (Refer to clause B.5.3)
• For welded sections, it conservatively assumes that the entire area of the cross section is weld affected.
• Assuming tension is distributed to each cross-sectional element so that the effective ne area (Ae) is taken as the net area (An)
• Assume all sections are using wrought products.
• The Lv parameter in Clause G4 is assumed to be the same as the max value of member bending length.

Note: Example Grades have been taken from the available alloys in the above ADM 2020 Aluminum Member Quick Design Calculator

The below table outlines the AS 1664 clauses/checks applied to the shapes supported by this calculator for each design action.

Note: Lateral torsional buckling checks do not apply to square hollow sections (B = D).

Below are some sample reports for the Alumium Quick Design Calculator above. 

• ADM 2020 ASD I Beam Sample Report
• ADM 2020 LRFD I Beam Sample Report
• AS 1664 Hollow Beam Sample Report

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SkyCiv offers a wide range of Cloud Structural Analysis and Design Software for engineers. As a constantly evolving tech company, we're committed to innovating and challenging existing workflows to save engineers time in their work processes and designs.