Estimation of the Compressive Strength of Cardboard Boxes Including Packaging Overhanging on the Pallet

Abstract

In this study, a numerical investigation was conducted on a verified packaging model, which sticks out beyond the pallet base area, which will evidently weaken its load-bearing capacity. This could lead to damage of the protected goods transported within this packaging. It might also result in the unnecessary overengineered design of the packaging, particularly when the potential for overhanging is anticipated beforehand, but its exact extent is not known. The article analyzed hundreds of cases, varying in terms of packaging dimensions (from 150 mm up to 600 mm), the extent of protrusion beyond the edge of the pallet (from 1% to 50% of box dimensions) and the use of various corrugated boards (B-, C-, EB- and BC-flute), in order to assess the decrease in the load-bearing capacity of the packaging compared to reference packaging, which was not overhanging on a pallet. For instance, it appeared that the decrease in the load-bearing capacity of the packaging when overhanging was insensitive to the corrugated cardboard material used. Additionally, the decrease in box strength was rapid while overhanging, even for a small value of overhanging.