A pressure vessel fracture mechanics study of the aluminum beverage can

Abstract

Two fracture mechanics studies were conducted using two different aluminum beverage containers (wall thicknesses of 0.0044 in. [0.112 mm] and 0.0039 in. [0.099 mm]). The first study involved a 1.25 in. (31.75 mm) wide center-cracked panel specimen to measure the axial fracture resistance of the containers. Factors contributing to beverage container fracture resistance are discussed, including the thickness and rolling direction orientation. Due to the extremely thin nature of these containers, a reduced specimen thickness leads to a reduced fracture resistance. This resistance is also seen to increase as the orientation to the material rolling direction becomes perpendicular. The second study was a full-scale, leak-before-break rupture test. Each container had a crack of a known length and depth machined in the exterior wall. The stress intensity factor of these cracks upon failure gives excellent correlation to the center-cracked panel specimens as well as to other models for predicting pressure vessel rupture.