การวิเคราะห์ไฟไนต์เอลิเมนต์เพื่อทำนายความแข็งแรงในการรับน้ำหนักกดทับ ของขวดน้ำดื่มจาก rPET 100%

Abstract

This study investigates the structural performance of drinking water bottles manufactured from 100% recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) using finite element analysis (FEA), with direct comparison to bottles made from virgin PET under identical geometric and loading conditions. A three-dimensional finite element model was developed to simulate vertical top-load compression and to examine the load–displacement response, stress distribution, and instability behavior of the bottle structure. The results reveal that the 100% rPET bottle exhibits an approximately 13% reduction in maximum compressive load capacity relative to the virgin PET counterpart. Pronounced stress concentrations and the initiation of local buckling were consistently observed in the neck and shoulder regions, indicating that these zones govern the onset of structural failure. The numerical findings highlight the sensitivity of top-load strength to material property degradation associated with recycled polymers and demonstrate the capability of FEA as a predictive tool for identifying critical structural regions and supporting design optimization of rPET bottles. This study provides quantitative insight into the mechanical implications of using 100% rPET and contributes to the development of structurally reliable and sustainable plastic packaging solutions.