ADI Metal is a provider of top-quality aluminum beams and many other aluminum products. We offer many types of ferrous and non-ferrous metal products, including 5456 and 6061 structural aluminum beams suitable for use in a wide variety of applications and industries.
About Structural Aluminum Beams
Most aluminum beams consist of structural aluminum, which is lightweight and can lead to increased labor productivity. These beams can also withstand heavy loads and feature superior weather and corrosion resistance, with the ability to hold up in high and low temperatures. These features make structural aluminum beams popular in many applications, including construction, heavy machinery, civil engineering, and other types of heavy-duty tasks.
There are different types of structural aluminum beams available, including unequal or equal I beams, T beams, H beams, and channels (unrounded C-shaped aluminum beams). These beams are typically manufactured using extrusion or forging processes and can be cold worked to improve strength. Once manufactured, they can be assembled by joining them together using bolts, rivets, and welding if necessary.
While building structures often rely on steel beams because of their heavier and tougher designs, lighter structural components tend to use aluminum beams because of their lightweight design. Specific applications for these beams include residential home structures such as gutters and industrial components like safety rails.
At ADI, we offer both 5456 and 6061 structural aluminum beams, which are among the most common aluminum alloys.
5456 Structural Aluminum Beams
This alloy is part of the wrought aluminum-magnesium family. It’s similar to 5356 aluminum; however, it is most commonly used in structural applications as opposed to filler for welding. It’s possible to form this alloy through extrusion, rolling, and less commonly forging. Cold working this alloy also produces tempers that feature low ductility with higher strength. However, it can experience exfoliation corrosion under exposure to temperatures exceeding 150 °F (65 °C) over long periods of time.
Chemical Composition
5456 aluminum alloy is made up of the following:
- Aluminum — 92.0-94.8%
- Copper — 0.1% max
- Chromium — 0.05-0.20%
- Magnesium — 4.7-5.5%
- Iron — 0.4% max
- Silicon — 0.25% max
- Zinc — 0.25% max
- Titanium — 0.2% max
- Manganese — 0.5-1.0%
- Residuals — 0.15% max
Mechanical Properties
The following are the mechanical properties of 5456 aluminum:
- Density: 2.66 g/cm3, or 166 lb/ft3
- Electrical conductivity: 29% IACS
- Thermal Conductivity: 120 W/m-K
- Ultimate tensile strength: 310-350 MPa, or 45-51 ksi
- Thermal Expansion: 23.9 μm/m-K
- Young’s modulus: 69 GPa, or 10 Msi
Visit our product page to learn more.
6061 Structural Aluminum Beams
Two of the most popular types of extrusion alloys include 6061 and 6063. While 6063 is the most popular of the two, many applications rely on 6061 aluminum. Both of these alloys’ primary alloying elements include silicon and magnesium, lending similar properties between them. 6061 aluminum features superior strength compared to 6063, which makes 6061 more ideal for structural applications.
Characteristics
6061 structural aluminum features the following characteristics:
- Excellent weldability
- Good machining and grinding
- Good workability
- Poor bending and forming
- Good wear resistance
- Good corrosion resistance
- Medium to high strength
Mechanical Properties
Mechanical properties of 6061 aluminum include:
- Tensile Strength: 45 ksi
- Elongation in 2″: 17%
- Shear Strength: 30 ksi
- Yield Point: 40 ksi
- Elasticity: 10 ksi
- Brinell Hardness: 95
- Fatigue Limit: 14 ksi
- Melting Point: 1220 °F
To learn more about this alloy, Visit our product page.
Structural Aluminum Beams at ADI Metal
If you require structural aluminum beams for your application, ADI Metal has everything you need with both 5456 and 6061 aluminum beams. At ADI Metal, we are American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) certified, which makes our products among the best for marine applications.
For more information about our structural aluminum beams, Contact us or request a quote today.