Preliminary failure analyses of loaded hot water bottles

Towler, Joseph, Baraya, Mohamed, Ran, Ziying, Alshammari, Adel, Arif, Syead, Desai, Mohammad, Palanivel, Sasidharan, Readioff, Rosti ORCID: 0000-0003-4887-9635 and Abass, Ahmed ORCID: 0000-0002-8622-4632 (2024) Preliminary failure analyses of loaded hot water bottles Applied Sciences, 14 (11). 4427-. ISSN 2076-3417, 2076-3417

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Abstract

Hot water bottles are widely utilised for their therapeutic advantages, such as relieving muscle tension and imparting warmth. However, the increasing frequency and potential risks associated with bursting or failure necessitate a detailed examination of the contributing factors as their failure is not fully understood in a scientific investigation manner. With the apparent lack of analysis of hot water bottles in the literature, this study employs, for the first time, a dual methodology involving finite element (FE) analysis conducted in ABAQUS and experimental validation to systematically investigate the underlying mechanisms leading to failure incidents. Through FE modelling and analysis, the stress and strain distribution within typical hot water bottles is modelled under compression loading conditions, facilitating the identification of vulnerable areas prone to failure. Experimental validation encompasses uniaxial loading compression tests on distinct specimens, generating load-displacement curves that elucidate material responses to compressive forces and highlight variations in load-bearing capacities. The study explores diverse failure modes, attributing them to stress concentration at geometric transitions and contact regions. Stress-strain curves contribute valuable insights into material characteristics, with ultimate stress values as crucial indicators of resistance to deformation and rupture. The FE analysis simulation results visualise deformation patterns and stress concentration zones. The findings illustrate that the highest stress concentration areas exist in the internal boundary of hot-water bottles near the neck and cap region. This is experimentally confirmed through the bursting failures of four samples, with three failures occurring in this specific region. Findings support the guidance that users should avoid sleeping with a hot water bottle as it may fail under compression if they lay on top of it. Meanwhile, it guides manufacturers to strengthen the weak areas of hot water bottles around the nicks and edges. This study significantly enhances understanding of hot-water bottle mechanics, thereby guiding design practice to improve overall performance and user safety. In summary, hot water bottles are commonly used but have not been investigated scientifically regarding external loading conditions and their related failure, as the current study did. Identifying the weak points through experiment and simulation directs manufacturers towards required improvements in particular regions, such as the bottleneck and edge reinforcement during the design and manufacturing phases.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	hot water bottle, FEA, mathematical model, failure analyses, von Mises, contact pressure, ABAQUS, MATLAB, computer aided design
Divisions:	Faculty of Science & Engineering > School of Engineering
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	23 May 2024 10:58
Last Modified:	23 May 2026 08:46
DOI:	10.3390/app14114427
Open Access URL:	https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/11/4427
Related Websites:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3181838
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