Study of three-dimensional deformation of a pallet using phase-shift shadow moire and finite-element analysis

We present the results of a comparative study on the static deformation of a pallet, made from oil-palm fiber-reinforced composite material, using the phase-shift shadow moire method and finite-element analysis (FEA). The pallet was designed and analyzed using a commercial software package. The effect of various joint types on the deformation profile was studied to obtain a simplified model to represent the actual design. A one-fifth scale model of the pallet was fabricated and the deformation due to static loading was measured using the phase-shift shadow moire method. The comparison between the measurement and FEA results on the deformed profile showed a maximum difference of 13.7% at the center of the some of the deck boards, but a smaller difference at other deck boards. The FEA results also produced a larger deformation gradient compared to the measurements.