Corrugated board containers design methods

In this paper, a brief review of design methods for corrugated board containers subjected to compressive loads is presented. The main request for a corrugated board package is the capability to resist stacking loads. The principal tool used in industrial application is actually a simplified formula derived from theoretical considerations. In this work, the authors compare results obtained from the simplified formula, an extended formula and two numerical models developed by authors using finite elements (FE): an FE model realised with homogenised elements and an FE model representing the entire corrugation geometry. Results obtained using FE model where validated using experimental data found in literature for simple supported corrugated board panels. The goal is the prediction of buckling and ultimate load for a given container starting from the knowledge of global geometry of the box, local geometry of corrugated board and mechanical characteristics of building material. Numerical results obtained with FE models and complete and simplified formulas are compared with experimental results obtained testing virgin (i.e., not worked) boxes and production (i.e., worked) boxes.