Thin web materials are prone to wrinkling during processing. A web wrinkle may collapse onto itself or result in tearing, both of which detract from web quality and productivity. The research will advance a current computer model of a web wrinkle passing over a cylindrical roller so as to include material anisotropy and variable roller geometry. The finite element method will be used to solve stresses and deformed wrinkle shapes. These results will allow quantitative measure of the relative contribution of each parameter to wrinkle stability. The advanced computer model will be experimentally verified and improved upon by using a web handling test-bed. Finally, the conditions necessary for initial wrinkle formation in a web will be studied using a web handling test-bed. The study will be performed with consultation from local web manufacturing and web handling industries.
