Sidewall Indentation and Buckling of Deformed Aluminum Beverage Cans

Previous research has demonstrated that finite element analysis can be used to predict the structural behavior of aluminum beverage cans including the buckling of the sidewall of the can. Buckling of a beverage container can occur when the lid is pressed on dented cans during assembly. The purpose of this research was to simulate the sidewall indentation and the buckling of aluminum cans with a deformed sidewall using LS-DYNA and validate the results through physical testing. Simulation of the sidewall indentation was done with an impacting sphere. Parameters investigated through simulation included the size of the impacting sphere, velocity of sphere, and impact height along sidewall of can. Results from this study are maximum and final can deflection, maximum and final energy absorbed by the can, and force deflection data. Simulation of the buckling of the deformed can was also performed. Results from the deformed can buckling model compared well with physical testing based on buckled geometry, buckling load, and external work to buckle. The deformed can model proved capable of accurately simulating the buckling of the deformed can.