This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles

for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

Designation: D4577 − 19

Standard Test Method for

Compression Resistance of a Container Under Constant
Load1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4577; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope 2.2 TAPPI Standard3

1.1 This test method is designed to determine the resistance T412 Moisture in pulp, paper and paperboard
of a shipping container to a vertically applied constant load for 3. Terminology
either a specified time or to failure. The test method may also
be used for palletized or unitized load configurations. 3.1 Definitions—General definitions for the packaging and
distribution environments are found in Terminology D996.
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the 3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- 3.2.1 load—the force applied to a body, lbf or N.
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter- 3.2.2 constant load—a load that is invariable or unchanging
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. 3.2.3 static load—an imposed stationary force, constant in
For specific precautionary statements, see Section 6. magnitude, direction, and sense
1.3 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- 4. Significance and Use
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the 4.1 In the distribution system for many products there is a
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- phase wherein the packaged product may be stored for a period
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical of time in a manner such that one or more containers are
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. superimposed one upon the other. Failure can occur in any
2. Referenced Documents layer4 (see Fig. 1 and Fig. 3).
2.1 ASTM Standards:2 4.2 This test method subjects a container, empty or filled, to
D642 Test Method for Determining Compressive Resistance a predetermined static load, and to specified atmospheric
of Shipping Containers, Components, and Unit Loads conditions, if required.
D685 Practice for Conditioning Paper and Paper Products 5. Apparatus
for Testing
D996 Terminology of Packaging and Distribution Environ- 5.1 The testing apparatus shall be capable of imposing a
ments constant load on the test specimen and may be hydraulically,
D4332 Practice for Conditioning Containers, Packages, or pneumatically, or mechanically activated. A test apparatus
Packaging Components for Testing employing dead weights to impose the constant load may be
D4442 Test Methods for Direct Moisture Content Measure- used, as in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. Compression machines may also
ment of Wood and Wood-Based Materials be used, as in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, and shall contain two platens,
E122 Practice for Calculating Sample Size to Estimate, With or suitable framework and fixturing, one stationary and one
Specified Precision, the Average for a Characteristic of a movable in the vertical direction. The movable platen may be
Lot or Process swiveled (floating) or fixed and should have proper
mechanical, pneumatic, or hydraulic linkages to permit top-to-
1
bottom loading. If the floor where the test is to be conducted is
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D10 on
Packaging and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D10.21 on Shipping subject to severe vibration, it may be necessary to vibration-
Containers and Systems - Application of Performance Test Methods. isolate the test apparatus. The test device should have a timer
Current edition approved April 1, 2019. Published June 2019. Originally
approved in 1986. Last previous edition approved in 2018 as D4577 – 05(2018).
3
DOI: 10.1520/D4577-19. Available from Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI),
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or 15 Technology Parkway South, Norcross, GA 30092, http://www.tappi.org.
4
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Frank, B., Gilgenbach, M., and Maltenfort, M., “Compression Testing to
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Simulate Real-World Stresses,” Packaging Technology and Science, 2010; 23:
the ASTM website. 275-282.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States

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 D4577 − 19

FIG. 1 Containers Under Constant Load of Dead Weights Imposed by Other Containers

for measuring the period of time required to cause container 5.4 Miscellaneous Equipment—Drying oven, scales, knife,
failure and means such as a dial indicator to measure box saws, etc., for use in determination of the moisture content or
deformation (inches or millimetres) while under load, or an for making other supplementary tests of the materials from
autographic recording device that records load and deformation which the containers are made. When testing unit loads, it is
over a period of time. recommended that an empty pallet be placed on top of the unit
5.2 Closing Equipment for Fiberboard Boxes—When empty load test specimen to achieve conditions similar to actual use.
boxes are to be tested, suitable closing facilities such as sealing
boards and proper adhesive for closing the flaps of box 6. Safety Precautions
specimens shall be used. See Test Method D642.
6.1 Performance of a test should never be considered
5.3 Conditioning Apparatus—Adequate facilities shall be without regard to safety. Some apparent precautions against
provided to maintain a conditioned atmosphere of temperature injuries are:
and humidity as required for the purpose of the test.

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 D4577 − 19

FIG. 2 Container Under Constant Load of Dead Weights

6.1.1 Care and caution should be observed while placing the type of container. For large production runs, lot sampling is
shipping container filled or unfilled on the testing apparatus. advised. Application of Practice E122 is suggested.
6.1.2 The testing apparatus should have load arrestors or 7.3 For testing unitized loads, multiple unitized load speci-
safety interlocks to prevent complete crushing of the container mens are recommended but a single unitized load specimen is
after initial failure. permissible.
6.1.3 When using dead weights, caution should be taken
when loading and unloading the weights from the apparatus. 8. Closing Fiberboard Containers Using Adhesive
7. Test Specimens and Number of Tests 8.1 Close the box specimen so as to avoid distortions that
may affect its loadbearing ability. The method of preparing the
7.1 The containers being tested shall be complete in all test specimen as described in the Annex of Test Method D642
respects. Depending on the purpose of the test, interior packing will accomplish this, but any method that will produce the
may or may not be included. No related bracing material within same results may be used.
the boxes that will give false results as to sample behavior shall
be used. Tests may be made on containers with or without 9. Conditioning
contents as prescribed. Packed containers should be closed and 9.1 When required, the container should be conditioned for
secured in the same manner as will be used in preparing them the static load test by exposure to fixed or controlled variable
for shipment (for example, tape, strapping). conditions of temperature and humidity.
7.2 Performance normally should be based on tests of not 9.1.1 Where applicable, a special atmosphere selected from
fewer than five representative replicates of a given size and those specified in Practice D4332 may be used.

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 D4577 − 19

FIG. 3 Containers Under Constant Load in Compression Test Machine With Fixed Platen

9.2 The test container shall be preconditioned in the desired compare test results from proposed containers with the test
atmosphere for such a time as is necessary to bring the results on similar containers whose shipping history is known.
container into equilibrium with that atmosphere and using the 10.2 In many cases, the acceptance criteria of a package that
techniques given in Practice D685. has been subjected to the test plan can be one of the following:
Criterion 1—Product is damage-free.
10. Acceptance Criteria Criterion 2—Package is intact.
10.1 Acceptance criteria must be established prior to testing Other acceptance criteria, including provision for accepting
and should consider the required condition of the product at minimal damage to the product or package, may be indicated.
receipt. The organizations conducting the test may choose any Acceptance criteria may include a provision for the condition
acceptance criteria suitable for their purpose. It is advisable to of package. The form and content of acceptance criteria may

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 D4577 − 19

FIG. 4 Unitized Load Under Constant Load in Compression Machine With Swivel (Floating) Platen

vary widely, according to the particular situation. Criteria may Test Method D642 is a common starting point.
range from the most rudimentary to highly quantitative scoring 11.2 When using a compression machine (Fig. 3 and Fig. 4),
or analysis systems. center the specimen on the bottom platen of the testing
apparatus so as not to incur eccentric loading. Induce the test
11. Procedure load on the specimen. The load shall be slowly applied at a near
11.1 Prior to test, select the constant load to which the uniform rate not to exceed 0.5 in./min until the container
container will be subjected. The selection may be based on: supports the entire predetermined load. When using dead
11.1.1 The load to which a bottom container will be weights (Fig. 1 and Fig. 2), this is accomplished by lowering
subjected to in storage, for example, warehouse. the support jacks and completely freeing the upper platen.
11.1.2 A percentage of the value obtained by Test Method
11.3 For a controlled fixture on a compression machine, set
D642 on a similar container.
it to a constant load control mode. The timing device is then
NOTE 1—For corrugated containers, 20-30% of the test value derived by started. An initial observation and record of zero deformation

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 D4577 − 19
shall begin at the end of 60 s after full load to establish 13.1.4 A detailed report of the test on each container,
base-time reference. Additional observations will be made after including damage to the container and contents, together with
5 min, 10 min, 30 min, 60 min, and 2 h. Thereafter, observa- any observations that may assist in correctly interpreting
tions and reading of deformation shall be made at predeter- results, or aid in improving the design of the container.
mined intervals, until the specified test period is over, or the 13.1.5 A graph or table showing the deflection versus time
container fails. for each test.
11.4 Moisture Content (When Specified): 13.1.6 The method of conditioning the container including
11.4.1 Fiberboard Containers—Determine the moisture the temperature and relative humidity of the conditioning
content of fiberboard at the end of the test in accordance with atmosphere, the moisture content of the material (where
TAPPI T412. applicable), and the results of any supplementary test of the
11.4.2 Wood Container—Determine the moisture content of materials from which the container was made.
wood at the end of the test in accordance with Test Methods 13.1.7 Report the number of containers tested, and the
D4442. mean, and standard deviation in transformed units, and the
median estimate in observed units of time.
12. Calculation 13.1.8 The compression test results from Test Method
12.1 This test produces time-to-failure data that does not D642.
conform to the normal or Gaussian distribution: The logarithms 13.1.9 A statement to the effect that all tests were performed
of the data, natural or common, do tend to be normally in full compliance with this test method noting any variations.
distributed. Before analysis, transform the data using the Report which option of test apparatus was used, dead weight or
following equation: compression machine. Report which option of movable load-
ing platen was used for compression machines, swiveled
C 5 logD (1)
(floating) or fixed.
where:
14. Precision and Bias
C = transformed datum, and
D = observed datum. 14.1 Precision—The subcommittee has conducted an analy-
sis of the data based on limited testing by one laboratory. These
12.2 The arithmetic mean of the transformed data is the
were top loaded empty regular slotted corrugated containers
recommended measure of central tendency. The antilog of this
tested until failure with the time to failure reported in days. The
average is a median estimate for the observed data.
within-laboratory repeatability standard deviation of the com-
12.3 The standard deviation of the transformed data is the mon (base 10) logarithms of the days to failure was 0.336.
recommended measure of variability or dispersion. Statistical Repeatability may depend on the specific container and con-
calculations should use this standard deviation directly, without ditions of testing. Some packages may be expected to be higher
transforming it to observed units of time. The antilogs of upper or lower than this. The between-laboratory reproducibility
and lower confidence limits will be in observed units of time precision has not been determined. Information on use of creep
and will not be symmetrical about the median estimate. (See data for predicting container failure is also available.5,6
Annex A1.)
14.2 Bias—No justifiable statement can be made on the bias
NOTE 2—Calculations based on the Weibull distribution are an accept- of this test method since a true or absolute value cannot be
able alternative to these procedures. (See Annex A2.) established by an accepted reference method.
13. Report
15. Keywords
13.1 The report shall include the following:
15.1 compression test; creep test; duration of load; packag-
13.1.1 Dimensions of the container under test; its complete
ing; shipping container; shipping unit; stacking life; storage
structural specifications; kind of material; description and
environment
specification of blocking and cushioning if used; spacing, size,
and kind of fasteners; method of closing; and net and gross
mass. If containers are tested in a stack as opposed to 5
Burgess, G., Singh, S.P., and Srinangyam, M., “Predicting Collapse Times for
individually, the number of containers in the stack and the Corrugated Boxes Under Constant Top Load Using Short Term Creep Tests,”
Journal of Testing and Evaluation, Volume 33, No. 4.
stacking pattern used shall be recorded. 6
Singh, S.P., and Burgess, G., “Creep Performance Data for Corrugated Boxes:
13.1.2 Description of the contents of the container, if any. Accelerated vs. Long Term Compression Strength,” Inside Preshipment Testing, 3rd
13.1.3 Acceptance criteria that have been established. Quarter, 2003.

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 D4577 − 19
ANNEXES

(Mandatory Information)

A1. EXAMPLE OF CALCULATIONS BASED ON LOGARITHMIC CONVERSION

A1.1 The following example demonstrates the method of Y X = log(Y)

calculation for time-to-failure data described in the test 25.23 1.40
11.43 1.06
method. If ten identical containers were tested with the same 1.84 0.26
load, some variation in the times-to-failure for the containers 10.97 1.04
13.18 1.12
would be expected. For example, a set of ten data points might 8.08 0.91
be: 5.26, 13.56, 6.74, 16.03, 25.23, 11.43, 1.84, 10.97, 13.18,
and 8.08 days to failure. It is convenient to list the time to Standard statistical calculations are conducted on the log
failure (Y) in one column and its logarithm (X) in another data (X), which are assumed to be from a normally distributed
column as shown below: population. For this example, the average (arithmetic mean)
and the sample standard deviation of the log data (X) are
Y X = log(Y)
5.26 days 0.72
calculated to be X̄ = 0.966 and s = 0.314, as estimates of the
13.56 1.13 population parameters. The antilog of the average is 9.25 days
6.74 0.83 and is reported as the central tendency. Other standard statis-
16.03 1.20
tical calculations also would be based on the log data (X).

A2. EXAMPLE OF WEIBULL CALCULATIONS

A2.1 The Weibull distribution can be fit to the same data

from the example in Annex A1. Graphical as well as several
computer aided techniques are available to estimate the popu-
lation parameters. A computer analysis of this set of data
yielded an Alpha Scale Parameter of 12.66 and a Beta Shape
Parameter of 1.89. From these it would be estimated that 10 %
of the population of containers would fail by 3.85 days and
50 % of the containers would fail by 10.43 days.

NOTE 1—The solid line represents the log-normal distribution

FIG. A2.1 Comparative Plots of the Cumulative Failure versus Time for the Example

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 D4577 − 19
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