Modeling of pillow-shaped paperboard packages subjected to compression

This thesis treats compression testing of pillow-shaped paperboard packages. Virtual packages were defined and compression tests, simulated using a commercial software, were compared to physical compression tests of actual packages. The tests were conducted using different package configurations. Initially a single package was tested both physically, obtaining force-displacement data, as well as virtually, obtaining stresses, strains and pressure data. Then two packages were used in order to test different package overlaps. Different number of package layers were tested virtually as well. Also in these cases, output was obtained in form of force-displacement data, stresses, strains and pressure data. It was concluded that it is only partially possible to compare virtual and physical data directly by means of the methods in this thesis. The overall behaviour of a package may be estimated, but actual stress and strain states may not. Of the three overlaps tested, 12.5 %, 25 % and 50 %, it was concluded, both by testing and by simulations that 12.5\% overlap is the best in terms of resisting compressive loads. From simulations, it was also shown that stacking two or three packages on top of each other has no effects on the build-up of internal pressure of the package