Numerical and Experimental Study into Paper Compression Test.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Mechanical Engineering
• Solid Mechanics

Background:

• Understanding the mechanical behavior of paper under axial load is critical for packaging applications.
• Accurate prediction of material failure under compression is essential for structural integrity.
• Corrugated cardboard is widely used in packaging, necessitating detailed analysis of its compressive strength.

Purpose of the Study:

• To experimentally determine the maximum compression load of paper samples with varying heights.
• To validate numerical models using the finite element method (FEM) against experimental results.
• To provide practical data for the mechanical properties and load capacity calculations of corrugated cardboard packaging.

Main Methods:

• Experimental compression tests were conducted on paper samples of different heights.
• Numerical simulations employed Green-Lagrangian nonlinear equations for large displacements and strains.
• Hill's anisotropy theory was used to model progressive failure of the orthotropic material.
• The Newton-Raphson algorithm facilitated nonlinear calculations and convergence.
• Image analysis tracked the shape changes of compressed paper samples.

Main Results:

• Experimental data provided the maximum compression load for paper samples.
• Validated FEM models accurately predicted paper behavior under axial compression.
• The study demonstrated the effectiveness of numerical simulations in replicating experimental outcomes.
• Analysis of sample shape changes offered insights into failure mechanisms.

Conclusions:

• The developed numerical model accurately reflects experimental compression test results.
• The findings are directly applicable to calculating mechanical properties of corrugated cardboard.
• This research aids in designing robust cardboard packaging and assessing its load-bearing capacity for transport and storage.