I'm wondering about aluminum wheels

[chris_amrein]

Really...there are no caves here, and I work where they build aircraft carriers every day.

BTW, the top half are not aluminum. Aluminum wouldn't hold up too well to planes landing on it every few minutes. The elevators are aluminum, and many of the internal structures are aluminum, and they are all bolted or riveted in, but the hull & deck are steel...very thick and hard steel.

Have you ever seen a pic of an aircraft carrier returning from a deployment...lots of rust on that there aluminum top half.

Well this was told to me by my instructor some 18 years ago. I'm guessing things haven't changed much in terms of ship building, except maybe my memory of the details of his story have faded...

Like maybe it wasn't aircraft carriers and instead some other large boat? Do you have working knowledge and details of other large vessels? Is it possible that perhaps other large, ocean bound ships use a process called explosion welding?

I don't know, but he was very specific that explosion welding isn't a mechanical bond but that it is actual welding because the grain structure of the aluminum and steel are made into one.

 

[lucky9]

https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Explosion_welding

 

[TRCM]

Do you have working knowledge and details of other large vessels? Is it possible that perhaps other large, ocean bound ships use a process called explosion welding?

As long as they are military sea going vessels. Can't speak for the civilian ships built here.

All cladding done in the yards here are done via normal welding procedures, no explosive welding is used. The issue with explosive welding is there is no way to maintain dimensional tolerances.

Some of the small boys do have aluminum superstructures, but I can not say how they are attached, nor am I sure how much of the superstructure is aluminum. All I know is the aircraft carrier superstructures are steel.

 

[Mighty.Mighty_XJ]

And so my thread has gone to hell, as usual with the know-it-alls, the e-engineers & what-not.

Was there ever a thread that remained on topic after 1 page?
I don't CARE about aircraft or superstructures!!! Talk to me about wheels!

Geez!

 

[blubullett]

Maybe we should fill a room with aluminum and steel wheels and throw in some dynamite. That will solve all our wheel problems. Light and strong.

 

[tbburg]

http://www.4wheeloffroad.com/techarticles/wheel_performance_test_aluminum_steel_wheels/index.html

I think that's the dumbest test I've ever seen in a magazine.