The effect of the through-thickness moisture content gradient on the moisture accelerated creep of paperboard: Hygro-viscoelastic modeling approach

Paper-based materials are viscous materials, the time-dependent behavior of which depends strongly on moisture content. Particularly the creep of paperboard containers under compressive forces is greatly affected by changes in the relative humidity. In the present paper, we examine the creep behavior of paperboard under cyclic humidity conditions using the finite element method. Especially the shape and rate of the through-thickness moisture content gradient on moisture accelerated creep are studied. An isotropic hygro-viscoelastic constitutive law is used for paperboard. The results of the simulations are compared with experiments. It is concluded that the through-thickness moisture gradients have a great impact on the moisture accelerated creep of paperboard. Furthermore, the results show that depending on the direction of external load the through-thickness moisture content gradient may increase or decrease creep rate.