A pressure vessel fracture mechanics study of the aluminum beverage can

Two fracture mechanics studies were conducted using two different aluminum beverage containers (wall thicknesses of 0.0044 in. [0.112 mm] and 0.0039 i n. [0.099 mm]). The first study involved a 1.25 in. (31.75 mm) wide center- cracked panel specimen to measure the axial fracture resistance of the cont ainers. Factors contributing to beverage container fracture resistance are discussed, including the thickness and rolling direction orientation. Due t o the extremely thin nature of these containers, a reduced specimen thickne ss leads to a reduced fracture resistance. This resistance is also seen to increase as the orientation to the material rolling direction becomes perpe ndicular. The second study was a full-scale, leak-before-break rupture test . Each container had a crack of a known length and depth machined in the ex terior wall. The stress intensity factor of these cracks upon failure gives excellent correlation to the center-cracked panel specimens as well as to other models for predicting pressure vessel rupture. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scie nce Ltd. All rights reserved.