Sheet metal components have wide-spread applications in various industries, such as
Aeronautical industry:
Sheet metal components are used to prepare various parts of aircraft (both transport and fighter), either alone or with composite materials. Duralumin is commonly used to make aircraft body due to its lighter weight, and higher strength.
Aircraft components generally made of sheet metal components are Fuselages, Wings, Body panels, Trim parts, etc.
Automobile industry:
Sheet metal components were largely used to make the framework of two wheelers, which is now replaced by fiber bodies. However, sheet metal is still used to make bodies of four wheelers, and other heavy vehicles, as it has higher strength, and malleability.
Some prominent automobile components manufactured using sheet metal components are Automotive Body Panels, Bumpers, Doors, Chassis, Trim parts, Brackets, etc.
Construction industry:
Due to their higher malleability and ductility, sheet metals can be converted into desirable shapes through plastic deformation. Sheet metal components are available in a wide variety, which is achieved by alloying, to improvised properties, and reduce prices.
Sheet metal components are also used in manufacturing roofs, building and other structural applications, such as shutters of shops.
Food Packaging industry:
Tinned food , Canned beverages
Boilers:
Boilers undergo extremely high pressure, exerted by large volume of steam generated by boiling fluids. Pressure vessels undergo very high orders of tearing stress at the revetted joint, hoop/ circumferential stress, and radial stress. So, sheet metal components are suitable as design and manufacturing materials for pressure vessels, as these can yield substantially before reaching breakdown stress, which may avoid material failure.
Ships:
Ship hulls undergo extreme drag force, which is exerted by water waves. Also, the propeller blades of ships are exerted with extremely high cyclic stresses, due to continuous churning of huge volume of water for propulsion. The design of ship hull needs precise streamlining to facilitate movement and reduce fuel consumption.
Sheet metal is used extensively in the manufacturing of ships, as these have high strength and can also be obtained with altered properties through various industrial processes, like alloying and heat treatment.
Domestic and Office utilities:
Sheet metals are used in making household utensils, like tumblers, and plates, and have also been used in offices for manufacturing utilities, such as, book shelves, pen stands etc.
