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SMW wheels are impeccably forged to safely sustain high speeds. Carefully crafted to serve the most demanding professionals.
Magnesium is the lightest of all structural metals. It is 1.5 times lighter than aluminium, 2.5 times lighter than titanium, and 4.3 times lighter than steel. Its specific strength is the highest of them all; so by adding crossection, the strength is increased and structural stiffness becomes superior to that of aluminium.
Magnesium wheels are more efficient by being lighter, and this weight reduction is more impactful because wheels are unsprung and are rotating – so the effect (together with tyres) is exponentially more significant than other components’. The resulting fuel consumption economy is up to 8% for city driving. And reduction in harmful carbon dioxide emissions is proportional.
Magnesium alloy wheels are superior in absorbing and dissipating shocks and vibrations. Magnesium’s unique damping properties are up to 50 times higher than in the case of aluminium. So vibration loads on a vehicle, especially on the engine, suspension and transmission are reduced, thus improving its performance and increasing its lifecycle.
The stiffness and reliability of structures, especially under bending and torsion load conditions, depend both on the properties of the material and on its geometry/shape. As such, the rigidity of a plate is proportional to the third degree of its thickness, its weight proportional to the first degree. Stiffness leads to higher level of control, which is very important at cornering.
Magnesium alloys dissipate eat better, and can thus reduce the temperature of brake systems and hubs – increasing the service life of brake pads and adjacent components.
A lighter wheel is faster to rotate and also to decelerate – thus slowing down the vehicle as braking dynamics improve under some circumstances, providing higher safety. Lighter wheels provide for improved handling and better maneuverability, especially at turns – resulting in safer cornering even at higher speeds.
Thorought X-ray and ultrasonic testing ensures sustainable long-term reliability of SMW magnesium wheels.
SMW develops proprietary higher-strength magnesium and aluminium alloys – thus enabling design optimization aimed at weight reduction. SMW Engineering has accumulated vast expertise during 22 years of experience designing and producing components in aviation-grade aluminium and magnesium alloys, including the most reliable high-performance magnesium alloys ZK60А and AZ80А. SMW employs 2024, 7050 and Almascan, among alloys possessing highest characteristics. This provides for stronger forged wheels. SMW puts its know-how to work – for obtainment of truly superior products. The competence of SMW engineers compounded with the state-of-the-art forging process enables to achieve optimized lightweight designs of automotive and motorcycle components – both for professionals aiming to improve their lap-time and for discerning enthusiasts who want only the best for their esteemed vehicle.
Composition limits: 7.8 to 9.2 Al, 0.20 to 0.80 Zn, 0.12 Mn min, 0.10 Si max, 0.05 Cu max, 0.005 Ni max, 0.005 Fe max, 0.30 max other (total), bal Mg
Tensile properties: See Tables 1, 3
Table 1. Typical mechanical properties of AZ80 alloy
Temper | Tensile strength | Yield Strength | Elongation | Shear Strength | Compressive Yield Strength | ||||
MPa | ksi | MPa | ksi | % | MPa | ksi | MPa | ksi | |
T5 | 345 | 50 | 250 | 36 | Min. 6 | 160 | 23 | 195 | 28 |
Hardness: T5 tempers: 72 HB. Data obtained using 500 kg load, 10 mm diam ball, and 30 sec duration of loading.
Elastic modulus: Tension, 45 GPa (6.5 × 106 psi); shear, 17 GPa (2.4 × 106 psi)
Poisson’s ratio: 0.35
Density: 1.8 g/cm3 at 20 °C
Fatigue strength: T5 temper: 95 MPa (13.7 ksi). Data correspond to 5 × 108 cycles of completely reversed stress in R.R. Moore type tests
Table 2. Design Stresses and Fatigue limits for Passenger vehicle wheel design (non-motorsport)
Test type | Load type | No. of cycles | Max. design stress | FoS YS | FoS TS |
1 | MPa | 1 | 1 | ||
High Cycle | ½ Mbmax | 1,800,000 | 90 | 2.8 | 3.8 |
Low Cycle | ¾ Mbmax | 200,000 | 135 | 1.85 | 2.5 |
* Within 5% error band.
Table 3. Typical tensile properties of AZ80-T5 alloy at various temperatures
Temperature | Tensile Strength | Yield Strength | Elongation | |||
°C | °F | MPa | ksi | MPa | ksi | % |
-18 | 0 | 355 | 51.5 | 252 | 36.5 | 10.5 |
21 | 70 | 338 | 49 | 248 | 36 | 11 |
93 | 200 | 307 | 44.5 | 221 | 32 | 18 |
150 | 300 | 241 | 35 | 176 | 25.5 | 25.5 |
* Temperature dependent values shall be considered individually, case-based
Composition limits: 0.5% Si max, 0.50% Fe max, 3.8% to 4.9% Cu, 0.30% to 0.9% Mn, 1.2% to 1.8% Mg, 0.10% Cr max, 0.25% Zn max, 0.15% Ti max, 0.05% max other (each), 0.15% max others (total), bal Al
Density: 2.77 g/cm3 at 20 °C
Tensile properties: See Tables 4, 6
Table 4. Typical mechanical properties of alloy 6061
Temper | Tensile strength | Yield Strength | Elongation | Shear Strength | |||
MPa | ksi | MPa | ksi | % | MPa | ksi | |
T3 | 485 | 70 | 345 | 50 | 18 | 285 | 41 |
T4, T351 | 470 | 68 | 325 | 47 | 20 | 285 | 41 |
Hardness: T4, T3, T351 tempers: 120 HB. Data obtained using 500 kg load, 10 mm diam ball, and 30 sec duration of loading.
Poisson’s ratio: 0.33 at 20 °C
Design Stresses: See Table 2
Elastic modulus: Tension, 72.4 GPa (10.5 × 106 psi); shear , 28.0 GPa (4.0 × 106 psi); compression, 73.8 GPa (10.7 × 106 psi)
Fatigue strength: T4, T3, T351 tempers: 140 MPa (20 ksi). Data corresponds to 5 × 108 cycles of completely reversed stress in R.R. Moore type tests
Table 5. Design Stresses and Fatigue limits for Passenger vehicle wheel design (non-motorsport)*
Test type | Load type | No. of cycles | Max. design stress*** | FoS YS** | FoS TS** |
1 | MPa | 1 | 1 | ||
High Cycle | ½ Mbmax | 1,800,000 | 180 | 1.8 | 2.6 |
Low Cycle | ¾ Mbmax | 200,000 | 225 | 1.45 | 2 |
* Within 5% error band.
** For minimum values of YS and TS
*** Design stress values for each use case shall be assigned individually and shall not exceed herein specified values (not applicable for motorsport)
Table 6. Typical tensile properties of alloy 2024-T3 at various temperatures*
Temperature | Tensile Strength | Yield Strength | Elongation | |||
°C | °F | MPa | ksi | MPa | ksi | % |
-28 | -18 | 496 | 72 | 352 | 51 | 17 |
24 | 75 | 483 | 70 | 345 | 50 | 17 |
100 | 212 | 455 | 66 | 331 | 48 | 16 |
149 | 300 | 379 | 55 | 310 | 45 | 11 |
* Temperature dependent values shall be considered individually, case -based.