COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF STEEL AND ALUMINUM STRUCTURES

Abstract

This study examined steel and aluminum variants of modern exhibition structures in which the main design requirements includelow weight (increased span/depth ratio, transportation, and construction) and durability (resistance to corrosion). This included a design situation in which the structural application of aluminum alloys provided an extremely convenient and practical solution. Viability of an aluminum structure depends on several factors and requires a detailed analysis. The overall conclusion of the study indicated that aluminum can be used as a structural material and as a viable alternative to steel for Croatian snow and wind load values and evidently in cases in which positive properties of aluminum are required for structural design. Furthermore, a structural fire analysis was conducted for an aluminum variant structure by using a zone model for realistic fire analysis. The results suggested that passive fire protection for the main structural members was not required in the event of a real fire with duration of 60 min.