Abstract
Tubular packaging forms fabricated and shaped from rolled paper are used as reinforcing corner posts for major appliances packaged in corrugated containers. Tests of column compression strength simulate the expected performance loads from appliances stacked in warehouses. Column strength depends on tube geometry, paper properties, basis weight, and number of laminations. A column strength model considers the tube geometry to be a sequence of geometric flat and arched segments with each segment apt to fail by either buckling or compression. Contributions of segments to strength depend on respective failure modes and are appropriately summed. The principles of our derived model provide insight into the optimum paper properties and number of laminations in the selection and design of tubular posts.