3.2.

6 Roofing and Siding Finishes

Finishes available for roofing and siding as purchased from the manufacturer
are given in Aluminum Standards and Data, Table 7.20 (11). These include
mill finish, embossed, painted, and low reflectance. As mentioned previously,
embossed sheet is an economical way to reduce the effect on appearance of
smudges and other surface marring. The low reflectance finish is measured
in accordance with ASTM Method D 523, and is specified in terms of a
specular gloss number. Before you get too creative in specifying low reflectance
or any other finish, it would be wise to check with suppliers to determine
what�s available here in the real world.
3.3 ERECTION
As with other topics peripheral to our central theme of providing guidance in
the structural design of aluminum, we share only a few observations concerning
the erection of aluminum structures. The properties of aluminum that
differ from steel and most significantly affect erection are density and modulus
of elasticity. An aluminum member of exactly the same size and shape
as a steel member will weigh one-third as much and deflect about three times
as far under live load. Aluminum members are often sized larger than steel
members in the same application, however, in order to limit deflections,
stresses, or fatigue effects. The net result is that aluminum structural components
and assemblies weigh about one-half those of steel designed to support
the same loads. This means they require less lifting capacity to handle
and place and usually can be erected more quickly (Figure 3.23).
Figure 3.23 An aluminum dome being set in place with a crane. Aluminum domes
as large as 190 ft [58 m] in diameter have been built alongside the structure to be
covered, and then set in place in this manner. (Courtesy of Conservatek Industries,
Inc.)
Field welding of aluminum should be performed only by companies that
specialize in this type of construction, such as erectors of welded-aluminum
storage tanks. Even then this work is subject to limitations, including frequent
radiographic inspection. The old maxim, ��Cut to fit, paint to match,�� should
never be applied to aluminum. It cannot be cleanly cut with an oxygenacetylene
torch, and even if it could, the application of heat would affect its
strength. It would be preferable to not have any equipment that can generate
temperatures above 150#F [65#C], such as welding equipment and torches, on
site. (The temptation to try to straighten out that beam they bent while unloading
the truck is just too great for some field crews to resist.) Consequently,
most aluminum structures are designed to be field assembled by bolting.
One fastener that can be installed very quickly, even under field conditions,
is the lockbolt. This fastener system (see Figure 8.5) requires access to both
sides of the joint and consists of a pin that has ribs and a narrow neck section,
as well as a collar that is swaged onto the pin. When the tension force in the
pin exceeds the strength of its neck, the neck breaks, resulting in a predictable
clamping force between the parts joined. The lockbolt cannot be removed
without destroying the fastener. This can be readily achieved, if necessary, by
splitting the collar with bolt cutters. The need for involved installation
procedures,
such as those using torque wrenches or turn-of-the-nut methods, is