Experimental and Numerical Analysis of the Edge Effect for Corrugated and Honeycomb Fiberboard

Abstract

As the two typical structural paper packaging materials, corrugated fiberboard and honeycomb paperboard occupy an important position in the field of logistics packaging. Up to now, numerous studies were focused on the properties of the above sandwich paperboards. However, the issue of their edgewise compressive strength has reached no consensus yet. The objective of this study is to investigate the edge effect and the influence on edgewise compressive strength of the two sandwich paperboards by experimental and numerical simulation methods. Firstly, the standard size specimens of the two sandwich paperboards were made based on the machining direction (MD) and cross-machining direction (CD), and the edgewise compressive strength experiments were carried out. Secondly, the finite element models of corrugated fiberboard and honeycomb paperboard were constructed using the same material, comprehensive weight and thickness, while the numerical assessment on edgewise compressive strength of CD and MD of the models were analyzed, respectively. Finally, measures to restrain the edge effect were taken, and the edge enhancement finite element models of the two paperboards were eleborated. The buckling analysis was carried out based on the numerical method. The results obtained suggest that the edge effect is one of the major factors controlling the edgewise compression strength of corrugated fiberboard and honeycomb paperboard.