Abstract: Expandable polystyrene （EPS） boards are widely used in the packaging industry due to their unique cushioning and shock absorption properties as well as cost advantages. Using an EPS model,the impact of material-saving hole structures on cushioning effects was verified and analyzed. The findings show that under the premise of conforming to cushioning pad design principles: 1） With equal hole area,structures featuring numerous narrow holes demonstrate superior cushioning performance compared to those with fewer wider holes; 2） With equal hole quantity,smaller spacing between holes yields better cushioning effects than larger spacing.

Key words: material-saving hole, effective cushioning area, cushioning effect