Smart structural design with aluminium

Light, strong, and infinitely recyclable. In a world with increased concern about environmental issues, aluminium alloys offer a green alternative to traditional building materials.

Structural aluminium alloys have been traditionally used in applications like aerospace and aviation due to their light weight, strength, resistance to corrosion, etc. With the increased concern about environmental issues, the range of applications becomes wider and wider. The reason: in addition to its excellent structural properties, aluminium alloys are infinitely recyclable. And not only that, recycling aluminium requires only 5 % of the energy required to produce primary metal. Therefore, aluminium alloys are being rapidly introduced in applications traditionally dominated by other materials in order to efficiently reduce their environmental impact, such as rebars for concrete, road vehicles (especially electric vehicles), high-speed trains, windmills, bridges, boats, off-shore, and submarine structures – the applications are endless.  An interdisciplinary approach is a must in order to advance this transition to greener and smarter structures, making this topic particularly well suited for Experts in Teamwork.

Relevant competency

All disciplines are welcome in this village. In addition to engineering students from all branches, we would like to include students from physics, mathematics, chemistry, and architecture, but also markets and economy, communication, product development, ecology, psychology, social sciences, and digitalization. The broader the background, the more creative approaches we will have.

About the village 

In this village you will have the chance to work in projects which are of the uttermost importance for the global economy in general, and for Norway in particular (since aluminium is one of the biggest exports). The village is sponsored and followed closely by Hydro, one of the largest aluminium companies worldwide. We will visit Hydro’s production plants at Sunndalsøra or Raufoss, in a day trip sponsored by the company. 
Experts working with aluminium structures will give short presentations in our village in order to offer you first-hand experience and the very latest hot topics in the field. The talks include personnel from Hydro, NTNU and SINTEF, but also from international companies dealing with smart structural design using aluminium. Students are encouraged to actively participate in these talks.

If you are thinking about starting your professional career at Hydro, the company has apprenticeships, internships and graduate programs available. Your participation in this village will improve your CV, not only for Hydro but also for any other company dealing with environmentally friendly, modern engineering.

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