Applications of Magnesium Alloys for Aerospace Structure Systems

The applications of magnesium alloys for designing aerospace structure systems are focused in this paper. As the material properties of magnesium alloys have advantages of light weight, high specific stiffness, and high damping characteristics, they are supposed to be advantageous for designing light-weight aerospace structures. Additionally, as the magnesium alloys are easily recycled with low energy costs and without environmental pollution, they are expected to be alternative materials for polymer and conventional composite materials. This paper describes the applications for aerospace structure systems with the magnesium alloys in the view point of structural design, structural reliability design, and system design of small satellites, Finally, the feasibility for applying the magnesium alloys to the space structure systems is discussed.