THE DISTRIBUTIVE AREA RATIO IN DETERMINATION OF PROTECTIVE PACKAGING DESIGN CONFIGURATION

Current design methodologies for protective packaging enable the key p arameters, viz buffer density, cushioning areas and thickness to be ea sily determined. However, the choice of size, location and configurati on of buffer features, depends on the designers' experience. A methodo logy is proposed that determines the buffer's cushioning area that is commensurate with the location of the centroid of the product and its sensitive areas, and also the rib configuration. A set of in-built rul es also ensures that the rib feature is compatible across the contiguo us faces of the buffer. The design methodology was validated by traini ng a neural network using 173 proven buffer designs from industry. Of the solutions generated by the neural network, 95% matched the proven designs. The methodology formalizes a computational means by which pro tective packaging buffers may be designed.