Evaluation of a Bulge Reduction Technology for Corrugated Fiberboard Containers Under Static Compression

This research examines the effect of top-to-bottom static compression load on the bulge of RSC containers. The study compares a control regular slotted container (RSC) constructed with corrugated fiberboard to tape-reinforced designs. The bulge reduction, achieved using various tape placements and conditioning environments, were measured. Currently, no research on the effect of reinforcement tape towards reduction in the out-of-plane displacement (bulging) of the corrugated fiberboard panels has been undertaken. Samples related to four different container designs, varying by presence, quantity and the position of the reinforcement tape on the vertical panels, were tested and analyzed. The study involved the use of a prototype cutting table, environmental conditioning chambers, a compression testing system and a patented container bulge measuring fixture. The statistical analysis of the observations confirms that the reinforcement tape significantly reduces the out-of-plane displacement of the container side panels under ambient environmental conditions (23 ± 1 °C, 50 ± 2% relative humidity). In tropical and refrigerated conditions (40 ± 2 °C, 90 ± 5% relative humidity and 5 ± 2 °C, 85 ± 5% relative humidity) it was observed that the reinforcement tape has potential in reducing bulge. The findings of this study should be valuable to packaging engineers towards the potential reduction of material usage while improving the stacking strength and rigidity of an optimized corrugated fiberboard containers