Finite element modeling and analysis of a cardboard shelter

Constructing shelters from corrugated cardboard panels represents an innovative approach in the construction industry. The cardboard shelters can be used for permanent living or as temporary houses in post natural disaster events. Due to their light weight and also due to the ease of packing, cardboard sheets can be easily shipped to remote areas. This study includes a comprehensive stress analysis of a full-scale cardboard shelter subjected to different wind load conditions. The cardboard is modeled using a laminated orthotropic shell element. The material properties incorporated in the model are based on the results of mechanical tests conducted on individual cardboard components. The study describes in detail the numerical model that was developed to simulate the global and local behavior of full-scale cardboard shelters under wind loads. Seven finite element analyses covering various loading and geometry configurations, including the effect of door and window openings, are conducted. Maximum strains found from the analyses are compared to the ultimate strains obtained from the component tests in order to judge on the level of safety provided by the shelters. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.