460–480J/kg·Ksourcebase material: EN S275JR unalloyed structural steel (the EN counterpart of A36), typical, 50/100 °C
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)
36.8mm²/s2.83x faster
13mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance
not sourced
5,390W/m
Values for
A380 aluminium high-pressure die-casting alloy, typical properties; Rheocast Company (aluminium die caster, Germantown WI) A380 alloy data page.
Generic structural steel, cited as ASTM A992 (the current US structural grade): ASTM A992 W-shapes; Fy/Fu specified minimums from AISC publications (AISC 360-16 Commentary; Modern Steel Construction); elastic constants AISC 360; physical constants from the bauforumstahl structural-steel EPD, which names A992 among covered product standards.
Every value links to the document that states it. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.
Questions
Is Aluminum A380 stronger than Steel?
Steel is stronger: its yield strength is 385 MPa against 160 MPa for Aluminum A380 (2.41x).
Which is lighter, Aluminum A380 or Steel?
Aluminum A380 is lighter: 2,713 kg/m³ against 7,850 kg/m³ for Steel.
Which is stiffer, Aluminum A380 or Steel?
Steel is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 71 GPa for Aluminum A380, so the same part in Steel deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, Aluminum A380 or Steel?
For the same stiffness or strength: Aluminum A380 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.
Part that must be
Aluminum A380
Steel
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
lighter
3% heavier
Stiff beam (bending)
lighter
1.72x heavier
Stiff panel or plate
lighter
2.05x heavier
Strong rod or tie
lighter
20% heavier
Strong beam
lighter
1.61x heavier
Strong panel or plate
lighter
1.87x heavier
For the same stiffness or strength, mass scales with density over stiffness (or strength) raised to a power set by how the part is loaded: 1 for a rod in tension, 1/2 for a beam in bending, 1/3 for a panel (the standard material-selection indices).
Which conducts heat better, Aluminum A380 or Steel?
Aluminum A380 conducts heat better: 96.2 W/m·K against 48 W/m·K for Steel.
Which expands less with temperature?
Steel expands less: 12 µm/m·K against 21.8 µm/m·K for Aluminum A380.