Minimizing the Weight of Aluminum Body Panels

General guidelines are provided in this paper that can minimize the weight of aluminum body panels. Denting, local stiffness, torsional and/or bending stiffness, strength, and vibration of body panels are considered. High strength alloys will provide the least panel weight when the governing criteria are denting, permanent set and crippling. Redesign to reduce size of unsupported outer panel areas or to increase inner panel rib size will provide the least weight when the governing criterion is stiffness.