The advantages of using aluminium alloy for the main structure of high-speed train carriages

January 17, 2026
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The main structure of the high-speed train carriages is made of aluminium alloy. The main advantages are lightweight, corrosion resistance, and ease of processing. These features can simultaneously enhance the running efficiency, safety, and economy of the train. The specific benefits are as follows:

Significant weight reduction– Reducing energy consumption and wheel-rail wear. The density of aluminium alloy is approximately 2.7g/cm³, which is only about one-third of that of steel. Which ensuring the structural strength, the use of aluminium alloy can significantly reduce the weight of the vehicle body, typically enabling a 30% to 50% reduction in the overall vehicle weight.

The direct benefits brought by lightweighting are two: Firstly, it reduces traction energy consumption. According to calculations, for every ton reduction in the train’s self-weight, approximately 0.5kilowatt-hours of electricity can be saved per 100 kilometers, which can significantly reduce costs over the long term. The second is to reduce costs over the long term.

The second is to reduce the pressure between the wheel and the rail, thereby minimizing the wear on both the track and the wheels. Extend the service life of infrastructure and components and reduce the frequency of maintenance.

The strength and toughness are well-matched to ensure driving safety. The aluminium alloy used in high-speed rail is not pure aluminium but a high-strength aluminium alloy profile (such as 6xxx series, 7xxx series) that has undergone alloying treatment. After being formed through processes like extrusion and welding, its tensile strength and yield strength can meet the requirements for resisting impact and deformation during high-speed operation.

Meanwhile, aluminum alloy has excellent toughness. When encountering sudden situations such as collisions and vibrations, it can absorb energy through moderate deformation, thereby enhancing the passive safety performance.And the fatigue strength of aluminum alloy is high, which can adapt to the long-term high-frequency start and stop and high-speed driving conditions of high-speed rail.

The advantages of using aluminium alloy for the main structure of high-speed train carriages

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