Influence of Low‐Intensity Repeated Impacts on Energy Absorption and Vibration Transmissibility of Honeycomb Paperboard

Abstract

Packaging products in logistics typically will receive multiple low‐intensity repeated impacts, fewer moderate to high‐intensity impacts and vibration. As a result of low‐intensity repeated impacts, local buckling and fold will be formed in honeycomb paperboard, and its cushioning performance will be weakened. This paper investigates the influence of low‐intensity repeated impacts on the cushioning performance of honeycomb paperboard. The low‐intensity repeated impacts with dropping height 5 cm were conducted at first. Then, the moderate‐intensity impact with dropping height 80 cm and vibration experiment were, respectively, conducted. The results show: (a) honeycomb paperboard absorbs the energy produced by low‐intensity repeated impacts through layer upon layer folding of honeycomb structure. The highest buckling peak turns up in low‐intensity impact, followed by a series of buckling in intact honeycomb paperboard. However, the buckling is not obvious in repeated impacts; (b) the load carrying capacity of honeycomb paperboard after low‐intensity repeated impacts declines significantly. Three deformation stages are observed in the load–displacement curve. Most of impact energy is absorbed in the plateau stage. The absorbed energy of damaged honeycomb paperboard under moderate‐intensity impact decreases with the increasing of low‐intensity impact repetitions; and (c) the low‐intensity repeated impacts have an obvious influence on the resonance frequency of packaging product and stiffness of honeycomb paperboard. To confirm vibration properties of product using honeycomb paperboard cushioning, it should be considered in a designing process that honeycomb paperboard changes soften more in logistics. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.