A. Rathaur, L. Pal
North Carolina State University,
United States
Keywords: flexible packaging, delamination, thermo-mechanical performance, finite element analysis, sustainable packaging
Summary:
This study investigates the mechanical response and delamination behavior of paper-based PLA laminates by integrating finite element analysis (FEA) with experimental testing, representing a strong convergence between simulation and experimentation. FEA, employing orthotropic material properties and cohesive zone elements (CZE), was used to predict stress and strain distributions, interfacial delamination between paper and PLA, and the combined thermal–mechanical response of the two-layer paper-PLA laminate. This integrated analysis enable the optimization of laminate structure and adhesion to achieve improved strength and thermal performance in sustainable flexible packaging.