Effects of Package Content Position on Slap-Down Angle

Abstract

As part of regulatory requirements, shipping packages must be able to withstand specified height drop accidents under a worst case orientation and configuration. The burden of justifying worst case orientation and configuration is placed on the package applicant. One of the drop cases to consider is slap-down, where the package is dropped at a shallow angle (eg, nearly horizontal). Due to the shallow angle, the initial impact at one end of the package accelerates the opposite end into the target surface at greater than the net drop velocity. The dynamics of the slap-down condition are modeled using simplified rigid-body dynamics to provide test engineers with a basis for establishing a suitable package content placement that could maximize the slap-down condition.