DETERMINING THE OPTIMAL NUMBER OF STRETCH FILM LAYERS FOR ENSURING PALLETIZED CARGO STABILITY: A SIMULATION STUDY

Numerical simulation tests were carried out to determine the influence of the characteristic features of a load unit (such as: weight, height, number of load layers, coefficient of friction between the layers) per number of wraps with stretch film necessary to ensure unit stability. Manufacturers of stretch film sometimes provide guidelines on how many layers of film should be used depending on the weight and height of the load. But they do not explain on the basis of which studies these values were determined. Performing simulations similar to those made in this work in laboratory conditions would be very expensive. The work attempts to determine such relationships by simulation methods. A developed by the author in his earlier works dynamic model of a layered cargo unit wrapped with stretch film was used. The study plan was to check 108 cases. On the basis of the collected data, an attempt was made to develop a mathematical formula that would allow to estimate the optimal number of foil wraps when certain parameters of the load unit are known. In the author's opinion such an estimate could reduce film consumption, which would have a positive impact on the environment.