Drop cushioning dynamic effects of corrugated cardboard with effective anisotropic constitutive model

Purpose The primary objective of this study is characterizing the anisotropic mechanical properties of corrugated cardboard and simultaneously simulating its drop cushioning dynamic effects under various drop conditions. Design/methodology/approach Static and dynamic tests were conducted on corrugated cardboard to obtain adequate experimental data in different directions. An effective anisotropic constitutive model is introduced by developing the honeycomb materials model in ANSYS LS-Dyna, and an effective approach is established toward effectively determining the material parameters from the test data obtained. The model is validated by comparing simulation results with experimental data from five drop conditions, including bottom drop, front drop, side drop, 30° side drop and edge drop. Additionally, simulations are conducted to study the cushioning performance of the packaging by dropping the corrugated cardboard at different heights. Findings The study establishes a fast and effective approach to simulating the drop cushioning performance of corrugated cardboard under various drop conditions, which demonstrates good agreement with experimental data. Originality/value This approach is of value for packaging protection and provides guidance for stacking of packaging during transportation.