Publisher's Synopsis
The need for light-weight structural materials in transportation applications is expanding as the pressure for improvements in emissions and fuel economic increases. The incorporation of aluminium and magnesium alloys into automotive structures has steadily increased to meet these needs.;This proceedings volume documents the extensive progress made in three areas. Aluminium and magnesium casting - recent advancements in understanding the relationship between microstructure and performance in automotive castings are described in this section. The effects of internal defects and compositional changes on reliability are also studied.;Aluminium sheet for automotive applications - the greatest vehicle weight savings are afforded by the incorporation of aluminium sheet for body-in-white and closure-panel applications. Understanding the forming characteristics of aluminum sheet is of critical importance. In this section the progress made in predicting forming performance and tool design are emphasized.;Advanced processing methods for aluminium and magnesium alloys - composite materials offer significant performance advantages in automotive applications. The use of these advanced materials presents special challenges in both processing and joining. Advanced processing methods, including superplastic forming and metal powder densification, are described.
