Tensile Properties of A357-T6 Aluminum Castings

Consideration of high-strength aluminum alloy castings as primary aircraft structure requires assurance that these products will possess structural integrity. Current industrial design practices place factors on properties or loads to offset the unknown characteristics of castings in recognition that the only absolute guarantee of properties is achievable through destructive tests. This paper presents an evaluation of tensile properties and their relationships to physical parameters for A357-T6 castings as an attempt to improve product assurance through nondestructive inspections. By improving both production controls and the measurements of significant physical conditions, it is believed that adequate product assurance can be developed to make these materials competitive with various wrought aluminum alloy fabricated structures.