Structural and Capacity Improvement of Polypropylene Disposable Food Containers Using FEA Software

Abstract

This study investigates the structural and capacity enhancement of 
polypropylene disposable foof containers through Finite Element 
Analysis (FEA) USING SolidWorks 2023, focusing on curves size 
enlargement. The original 4mm curve design was modified to 5mm and 
6mm to address issues of structural instability and food waste cause by 
trapped residues. Simulations demonstrated that increasing the curve 
size significantly improve stress distribution and reduced displacement 
under various load conditions. The 6mm design shows incredible 
structural stability, usability and material efficiency, with the stress 
value remaining within safe limits for polypropylene. Prototypes were 
fabricated using PLA 3D printing for practical ‘first try’, while the final 
product is intended for injection molding with polypropylene to ensure 
food safety and durability. This research concludes that optimizing 
curve parameters enhances container performance, reduces food waste 
and supports cost-effective manufacturing, with the 6mm design 
emerging as the most viable solution.