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Students inspecting compression test setup.

Our graduate students come from diverse academic and cultural backgrounds; however, the common link among them is that they are all talented, hard-working individuals who would like to make a difference in the world. 

 

 

Current Graduate Students' Research Projects:

 

Hiral

Prediction modeling of box overhang  on compression strength


Hiral R. Makwana
M.S. Student
hiralmakwana@vt.edu

Learn from past CPULD research (Thesis, Disertations, and Published Articles):

  • Mansharamani, Yash (2024) An investigation of wood pallets landfilled and recovered at US municipal solid waste facilities in 2021
  • Hobbs, Sean (2023) Investigation of new and recovered wood shipping platforms in the US in 2021
  • Shiner, Z., Horvath, L., Araman, P., & Gething, B. (2021). An investigation of wood pallets landfilled and recovered at US municipal solid waste facilities. Bioresources, 16(1), 1496-1522. DOI:10.15376/biores.16.1.1496-1522 

 

  • Capizzi, Seth (2024) Evaluation of Pallet Deflection that Occurs Under Various Forklift Handling Conditions
  • Alvarez, Mary Paz (2023) Predicting the Strength of Plastic Pails Supported on Flexible Pallet Deckboards
  • Sabattus, Clark (2022). Thesis = Measurement of Hazards Experienced by Pallets During Material Handling
  • Masis, Jorge (2021). Thesis = Investigation into pallet durability thoughout the hazards that pallets experience during regular use and handling
  • Mackes, K., Loferski, J., & White, M. (1995). A Pneumatic Pressure Bag Testing Machine for Applying a Uniform Load to Panels and Pallets. Journal of Testing and Evaluation, 23(4), 295-299. https://doi.org/10.1520/JTE10428J

 

  • Park, J., Bush, R., Araman, P., & Horvath, L. (2012). The Sustainability of Wood Pallets in the United States. In California Polytechnic State University's, 18th IAPRI World Packaging Conference Proceedings (pp. 66-70). DESTech Publications Inc.
  • Clarke, J., White, M., & Araman, P. (2005). Comparative performance of new, repaired, and remanufactured 48- by 40-inch GMA-style wood pallets. Forest Products Journal. 55(12): 83-88.
  • Clarke, J., White, M., & Araman, P. (2005). Effect of stringer repair methods and repair frequency on GMA performance. Pallet Enterprise. 25(2): 68-73.
  • Clarke, J., White, M., & Araman, P. (2001). Performance of pallet parts recovered from used wood pallets. Forest Products Journal. 51(2): 55-62.
  • Clarke, J., McLain, T., White, M., & Araman, P. (1993). Evaluation of Metal Connector Plates for Repair of Wood Pallet Stringers. Forest Products Journal. 43(10): 15-22.

 

  • Alvarez, Mary Paz (2023) Predicting the Strength of Plastic Pails Supported on Flexible Pallet Deckboards
  • Huang, Yu Yang (2021). Thesis = Evaluation of the maximum pallet deflection that occurs under forklift handling conditions.
  • Alvarez Valverde, M., Horvath, L., Bouldin, J., & Shahabi, F. (2021). The effect of plastic pails on pallet deflection and pressure distribution for stringer class wooden pallets.  Packaging Technology and Science, 34(7), 423-434. https://doi.org/10.1002/pts.2571
  • Quesenberry, C., Horvath, L., Bouldin, J., & White, M. (2020). The effect of pallet top deck stiffness on the compression strength of asymmetrically supported corrugated boxes. Packaging Technology and Science, 33(12), 547-558. https://doi.org/10.1002/pts.2533
  • Morrissette, S., Horvath, L., & DeLack, K. (2020). Investigation into the load bridging effect for block class pallets as a function of package size and pallet stiffness. Packaging Technology and Science, 34(1), 51-69. https://doi.org/10.1002/pts.2539
  • Baker, M., Horvath, L., White, M., & Scott, M. (2017). Application of Beam on Elastic Foundation to the Interaction Between a Corrugated Box and Pallet Deckboard. Packaging Technology and Science, 31(5), 377-385. https://doi.org/10.1002/pts.2338
  • Park, J., Horvath, L., White, S., Phanthanousy, S., Araman, P., & Bush, R. (2017). The Influence of Package Size and Flute Type of Corrugated Boxes on Load Bridging in Unit Loads. Packaging Technology and Science, 30(1-2), 33-43. https://doi.org/10.1002/pts.2279
  • Park, J., Kim, J., Park, J., Horvath, L., & Kim, G. (2017). Numerical Analysis of Clamping Pressure During Carton Clamp Handling of Heavyweight Corrugated Packages. International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering 10(5), 25-34. http://www.ijabe.org/index.php/ijabe/article/view/2917
  • Baker, M., Horvath, L., & White, M. (2016). Effect of Pallet Deckboard Stiffness on Corrugated Box Compression Strength. Packaging Technology and Science, 29(4-5), 263-274.  https://doi.org/10.1002/pts.2201
  • Baker, M., Horvath, L., & White, M. (2016). Predicting the Effect of Gaps Between Pallet Deckboards on the Compression Strength of Corrugated Boxes.  Journal of Applied Packaging Research: Vol. 8: No. 3, Article 3, pp 30-42. https://scholarworks.rit.edu/japr/vol8/iss3/3

 

  • Huang, Y., Horvath, L., & Borocz, P. (2021). Measurement and analysis of industrial forklift vibration levels for unit load testing purposes. Applied Science, 11(7), 2901. https://doi.org/10.3390/app11072901
  • Molina, E., Horvath, L., & West, R. (2021). Development of a friction-driven finite element model to simulate the load bridging effect of unit loads stored in warehouse racks. Applied Science, 11(7), 3029. https://doi.org/10.3390/app11073029
  • Clayton, A., Horvath, L., Bouldin, J., & Gething, B. (2019). Investigation of the Effect of Column Stacked Corrugated Boxes on Load Bridging Using Partial Four-Way Stringer Class Wooden Pallets. Packaging Technology and Science, 32(9), 423-439. https://doi.org/10.1002/pts.2438 
  • Molina, E., Horvath, L., & White, M. (2018). Investigation of Pallet Stacking Patterns on Unit Load Bridging. Packaging Technology and Science, 31(10), 653-663. https://doi.org/10.1002/pts.2406
  • Park, J., Horvath, L., White, M., Araman, P., & Bush, R. (2018). The Influence of Stretch Wrap Containment Force on Load Bridging in Unit Loads. Packaging Technology and Science, 31(11), 701-708. https://doi.org/10.1002/pts.2385

 

 

  • Park, J., Horvath, L., & Bush, R. (2017). Life Cycle Inventory Analysis of the Wood Pallet Repair Process in the United States. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 22(5), 1117-1126. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12652
  • Park, J., Horvath, L., & Bush, R. (2016). Process Methods and Levels of Automation of Wood Pallet Repair in the United States. BioResources, 11(3), 6822-6835. https://ojs.cnr.ncsu.edu/index.php/BioRes/article/view/BioRes_11_3_6822_Park_Process_Methods_Wood_Pallet_Repair
  • Park, J., Bush, R., Araman, P., & Horvath, L. (2012). The Sustainability of Wood Pallets in the United States. In California Polytechnic State University's, 18th IAPRI World Packaging Conference Proceedings (pp. 66-70). DESTech Publications Inc.
  • Clarke, J., White, M., & Araman, P. (2005). Comparative performance of new, repaired, and remanufactured 48- by 40-inch GMA-style wood pallets. Forest Products Journal. 55(12): 83-88.
  • Mitchell, H., White, M., Araman, P., & Hamner, P. (2005). Hardwood pallet cant quality and pallet part yields. Forest Products Journal, Vol. 55(12): 233-238.
  • Clarke, J., White, M., & Araman, P. (2001). Performance of pallet parts recovered from used wood pallets. Forest Products Journal. 51(2): 55-62.
  • Clarke, J., McLain, T., White, M., & Araman, P. (1993). Reinforcement of Wood Pallets with Metal Connector Plates. Forest Products Journal. 43(10): 70-76.
  • McLeod, J., White, M., Ifju, P., & Araman, P. (1991). Flexural Properties of Eastern Hardwood Pallet Parts. Forest Products Journal. 42(2): 45-52.