Abstract
Various postbuckling models involving elastic versus inelastic buckling, linear versus nonlinear material characterization, and finite versus infinite length plate geometry were fit to historical data on compression strength of corrugated fiberboard box and tube specimens. The objectives were to determine if the buckling mode shape could be predicted and if inelastic buckling failure could be differentiated from elastic failure in the side panel and end panel components to account for specimen geometry and material property effects. The variation of a normalized panel strength with a panel slenderness was the criterion for discerning among alternative models. In some cases multiple solutions were feasible. Overall, a finite length plate theory, combined elastic-inelastic postbuckling model, and nonlinear material characterization with plate stiffness empirically corrected with respect to its aspect ratio consistently fit each data source.
