Some questions and answers about aluminium sheets for aircraft

Some questions and answers about aluminium sheets for aircraft

Why is it that aircraft aluminium can only be riveted, but a car's all-aluminium body can be welded, can't cars use the riveting process?

On the contrary, why don't aircraft use the welding process? What are the advantages and disadvantages of riveting compared to welding?

Aircraft are made of 2XXX and 7XXX aluminium alloys, which are relatively low strength and weldable. For automobiles, 5XXX and 6XXX aluminium alloys are used, which have good strength and good formability and weldability. The riveting process is so expensive that cars can't afford it. It is better to glue than to rivet.

How much steel is used in an aircraft?

Steel is not widely used in aircraft because of its weight. It is only used in small quantities in places where it is needed to withstand heavy loads and high temperatures. Steel is now used less and less in aircraft due to the emergence of new materials. Modern airliners are mainly made of aluminium, titanium and composite materials, with the main structure of modern airliners being aluminium, some of the newer airliners experimenting with composite materials mixed with aluminium for their interiors, and fighter aircraft showing a tendency to increase the proportion of titanium (40% of the F22 is made of titanium). But in any case, the use of steel is relatively rare.

Aircraft grade aluminium alloys are generally 7XXX Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys, which have the advantage of being high strength, hardness and light weight.