Numerical and experimental investigation of the deformational behaviour of plastic containers

A numerical and experimental study was undertaken to investigate the deformational behaviour of a plastic grooved container used to store agrochemical solutions when loaded under columnar crush conditions. Finite element analysis was implemented to calculate stresses and deformations at various critical points of the container. A non‐linear elastoplastic analysis was performed, based on the ABAQUS FEM computer program. The results of the stress analysis were coupled with a yield criterion to predict the initiation of plastic deformation. The numerically obtained results are compared to those obtained experimentally. It was found that the numerically calculated strains at predetermined locations of the plastic container were in good agreement with the experimentally measured ones.