Application of Aluminum Alloy Wheel Hub in Automobile

1. Development origin of automobile aluminum alloy wheels

The manufacturing of aluminum alloy wheel in foreign countries has experienced the development process from sand casting to aluminum alloy integral wheel, which was widely used in ordinary cars after World War II. The rapid development of automobile aluminum alloy wheel hub began in the 1970s. The foreign automobile industry began to adopt aluminum alloy production technology on a large scale, and aluminum alloy wheel hub has become an indispensable part of the automobile industry. However, compared with foreign countries, the time for China to introduce and develop this technology is relatively short, and the development is relatively slow. The formal introduction of automobile aluminum alloy wheel production technology was in the 1990s.

2. Structural characteristics of automobile aluminum alloy wheels

Before introducing the aluminum alloy wheel hub, please understand its basic structure. The hub is a thin part with uniform thick wall in the cup shaped parts, which is an important part of automobile safety. It is not only affected by the vehicle and its mass, but also by the dynamic torque generated when the vehicle starts and the irregular alternating stress generated by road obstacles or running vehicles. In terms of classification, there are mainly steel wheels and aluminum wheels. Among them, aluminum alloy wheel hub has won the market and consumers’ favor for its good rigidity, good elasticity, high precision and light weight. Hub types are divided into iron hub and aluminum alloy hub. The former has low construction cost. It is not only heavy, but also lacks appearance, and is vulnerable to interference and corrosion from the external environment. However, it has high durability and long service life. With the development of industrial technology, aluminum alloy wheel hub has become the most popular wheel, and its performance is more beautiful and durable than iron wheel hub. In addition, due to its good heat dissipation, it is very suitable for long-distance use. However, it must be noted that the manufacturing cost of aluminum alloy is higher than that of steel products, and it is usually applicable to more high-end models, which not only improves road safety, but also saves energy and reduces emissions.

3. Performance requirements for automobile aluminum alloy wheels

Aluminum alloy wheels have many types and structures, and their requirements vary from model to model, but their strength and accuracy are the most basic common requirements. Through market research, the wheel hub should have reasonable materials, reasonable overall dimensions, complete tire functions, and be interchangeable with tires and internationally used; When driving, it has the characteristics of small vertical and horizontal swing, small loss measurement, and sufficient strength, stiffness and stability; Good tire separation and durability; The production process can meet the requirements of stable quality, low cost, many varieties and large production scale.

4. Application advantages of automobile aluminum alloy wheels

4.1 Light weight

Aluminum alloy wheels are lighter than traditional steel wheels, accounting for only 65%~75% of the total weight of steel wheels. Due to the light weight of the wheel hub, its inertia will also increase during rotation, thus improving the acceleration performance of the vehicle itself. By reducing weight, the energy provided per unit time makes the vehicle rotate faster on 4 wheels, thus improving the acceleration performance of the vehicle itself.

4.2 Reduced fuel consumption

The application of aluminum alloy wheel hub improves the acceleration performance of the vehicle, greatly reduces the fuel consumption of the vehicle brake, and has great energy-saving effect. Reducing fuel consumption is the need for energy conservation in the era of automobile industry. The use of aluminum alloy wheels will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles, reduce the demand for braking energy, and reduce fuel consumption.

4.3 Improve vehicle performance

Compared with traditional steel wheels, the production process of aluminum alloy wheels is more refined, which realizes the separation of wheels, makes the center of gravity more stable, and avoids body vibration. Aluminum alloy itself has good vibration performance. Compared with traditional steel wheels, the vibration range is reduced by 13%. This is because the traditional steel wheels are mainly cold-rolled and hot-rolled welded steel, which will cause serious body vibration when the vehicle runs at high speed. In the production and processing of aluminum alloy wheels, CNC equipment is mainly used to achieve the accurate control of various parameters, so that the wheels have good balance, improve the safety and comfort of vehicles, and greatly improve the driving performance of vehicles.

4.4 Good heat dissipation

The heat of the car itself is generated by two parts: the friction between the tire and the car ground and the internal heat generated by the car brake. Due to the high temperature inside the tire, there is a certain possibility of tire blowout when driving at high speed. However, aluminum alloy wheels can effectively help the car dissipate heat. In other words, aluminum alloy is used to reduce the friction between the wheel hub and the ground, and significantly reduce the wheel operating temperature, which also helps to maintain the appropriate wheel system temperature, keep the vehicle in good working condition, and reduce the risk of tire burst.

4.5 Good safety and comfort

When the traditional steel wheeled vehicle is running at high speed, the hub deformation is serious, which increases the driving safety risks and endangers the personal safety of passengers. Aluminum alloy can help improve the braking efficiency of vehicles, greatly improve the service life of vehicle brake discs and tires, and ensure the safety of vehicles. In addition, flat tires are usually installed on aluminum alloy wheels. Compared with traditional steel wheels, even on rough surfaces, there will not be many dents. Automobile has good safety and comfort, which meets people’s pursuit of comfort and improves people’s quality of life.

4.6 More beautiful

The aesthetic feeling of wheels has an important influence on the image of cars. At present, the design of automobile wheel hub is a key problem that can not be ignored in automobile styling design. The shape of wheel hub is directly related to the level and quality of body design. Therefore, how to design the shape of the wheel hub and how to design the wheel hub with style and aesthetic interest has become a common concern of wheel manufacturers and designers. The production process of aluminum alloy wheel hub is different from that of steel wheel. Different designs and shapes make the wheel hub more perfect and beautiful. It can also design and process various patterns and structures. Different colors can be formed through surface treatment or electroplating to meet the aesthetic needs of different users.

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