Studies of wood pallet response to forced vibration

Abstract

Wood pallets serve as interfaces between packaged products and transport vehicles. vertical vibrations are transmitted through pallets into unit-loads. Pallet response to forced vibration affects forces experienced by products. A study was conducted to determine how pallet design influenced the resonant response of a uniformly distributed case goods unit-load. other studies were conducted to develop a pallet section model to emulate the response of three stringer wood pallets to forced vibration. This model was used to investigate the effects of joint stiffness, deckboard EI, and uniformly distributed load level on the resonant response of pallet decks. Pallets were found to lower unit-load resonant frequencies and increase transmissibilities at resonance. Pallet sections constructed with stiff decks and joints were found to have higher resonant frequencies and lower transmissibilities than sections constructed with less stiff deck components. To prevent pallets from elevating acceleration transmitted through unit-loads, pallets should be constructed with the stiffest decks and joints that are economically feasible.