You might think the ribbed design on canned food is just a quirky touch meant to make look more interesting, but it actually serves a crucial purpose. Those ridges, also known as corrugations, are essential for reinforcing the can's structure. If you've ever seen a bin full of crushed soda cans, you have already seen how easily a smooth-sided can crumples under pressure.
In contrast, a ribbed soup can is much tougher to flatten. This is because the corrugated ridges add strength to the tin by creating a series of tiny arches along the surface. These in turn more evenly distribute pressure, similar to how the arches of a bridge help it carry heavy loads.
For another example, I was once part of a team-building exercise where we had to build a tower out of paper. Flat sheets collapsed quickly, but folding them into accordion shapes or rolling them into tubes made the structure much stronger. Similarly, ribbing in a can prevents it from denting or collapsing under pressure — so no unexpected bean explosions! But the ridges have another job that goes beyond just strength.
The ridges also help the can handle heat In addition to making the can stronger, the ridges on a can help it withstand heat. During the canning process, the contents are sealed and then brought to high temperatures to kill off any bacteria, helping to ensure that the food inside stays safe to eat. This heating process causes the contents to expand, creating pressure within the can.
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