An investigation of pallet design using alternative materials for cold room applications |
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Authors: | SH Masood S Haider Rizvi |
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Affiliation: | (1) Industrial Research Institute Swinburne, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Melbourne, Australia, 3122 |
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Abstract: | This paper presents an investigation into the improvement of existing design and materials for pallets used in material handling
applications. The objective was to develop a pallet design made from alternative materials such as composites of recycled
corrugated paperboard and plywood for cold room lifting needs. Several new designs are proposed and analysed using the finite
element method (FEM) and related information of weight, loading and safety conditions. Among these, five designs are recommended
– one is made of plywood, two are made of corrugated paperboard, and two are made of specially constructed composite materials.
The selection process aimed to ensure pallets were safe and stable and involved checking for maximum deflection while lifting
and for catastrophe failure due to maximum stresses under Rankine’s theory of failure. We conclude that plywood, corrugated
paperboard and a composite of the two materials can be utilised successfully to manufacture stable and strong pallets. Using
FEM analysis and simulation studies on Pro/Mechanica FEM software, we were able to suggest several optimum designs with one-third
the weight and all of the functionality of traditional pallets. |
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Keywords: | Design Finite element analysis Material handling Pallets |
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