Objective Knowledge of aluminium alloys is recent and limited in comparison with steel know-how. Collection of existing data has identified actual possibilities and has selected appropriate alloys for sheet materials, cast parts and extruded profiles. Evaluation of physical and mechanical characteristics of the aluminium alloys with indication of their mechanical and thermal properties have given the engineering choices. A review of shaping processes such as deep drawing, bake hardening, casting, bending, welding, have determined better metallurgical capabilities and define the precise process conditions to be chosen. Representative specimens have been tested in simulated conditions for stiffness, fatigue, impact... for estimation of the service life behaviour of assembled structural parts. Conventional procedure tests have been performed on several high strength aluminium alloys after simulative process conditions in order to determine the levels of mechanical properties such as tensile, stiffness, impact and fatigue strength. These determinations allowed to quantify the possibility of weight reduction such as 40% using 120Mpa fatigue strength aluminium alloys (A 356 for instance) for body panels. This precompetitive work has established a guideline in the choice of materials and specification for design of vehicle and has supplied data information in forming processes for manufacturing of vehicle.The use of aluminium alloys for vehicle body structures can result in a 40% weight saving but there are some technical barriers for their application in mass production. This project will select high strength aluminium alloys for their general behaviour in service life.Characteristics of aluminium alloys products as sheet materials, cast parts and extruded profiles will be determined for optimized design of body structure with mechanical properties testing such as tensile strength, ductility, impact strength, stiffness and fatigue resistance. Metallurgical compatibility of aluminium alloys in such shaping processes as drawing, bending, casting, heat treatment, assembling, paint baling,... will be evaluated for optimization of manufacturing processes. Fields of science engineering and technologymechanical engineeringmanufacturing engineeringnatural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistrypost-transition metals Programme(s) FP3-BRITE/EURAM 2 - Specific programme (EEC) of research and technological development in the field of industrial and materials technologies, 1990-1994 Topic(s) 1.3.1 - Metals and metal matrix composites Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator RENAULT Address 9/11 avenue du 18 juin 1940 92500 Rueil-malmaison France See on map EU contribution € 0,00 Participants (14) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all AB VOLVO Sweden EU contribution € 0,00 Address Dept 06430 bc1 40508 Gothenburg See on map ALUSUISSE LTD Switzerland EU contribution € 0,00 Address Bad. bahnhofstr. 16 3965 Chippis See on map AMAG-FORSCHUNGS & ENTWICKLUNGES GMBH Austria EU contribution € 0,00 Address 5282 Ranshofen See on map Alcan International Ltd United Kingdom EU contribution € 0,00 Address Southam road OX16 7SA Banbury See on map Alures ScpA Italy EU contribution € 0,00 Address Via g. bovio 6 28100 Novara See on map Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW) Germany EU contribution € 0,00 Address 80702 München See on map Centro Ricerche Fiat ScpA Italy EU contribution € 0,00 Address Strada torino 50 10043 Orbassano See on map DAIMLER-BENZ AG Germany EU contribution € 0,00 Address 8000 München See on map HYDRO ALU Norway EU contribution € 0,00 Address 4265 Haavik See on map Pechiney France EU contribution € 0,00 Address Centre de recherches de voreppe zone industrielle 38340 Voreppe See on map Peugeot SA France EU contribution € 0,00 Address Route de gisy 78140 Vélizy-villacoublay See on map ROVER GROUP PLC United Kingdom EU contribution € 0,00 Address Banbury road lightorne gtc CV35 0BL Warwick See on map SWEDISH INST FOR METALS RESEARCH Sweden EU contribution € 0,00 Address Drottning kristinas vag 48 11428 Stockholm See on map THE WELDING INSTITUTE United Kingdom EU contribution € 0,00 Address Granta park, great abington CB1 6AL Cambridge See on map