Design and FEM Calculation of New Foldable Bathtub

Abstract

In order to solve the contradiction between the increasing demand for bathtub and the large space occupied by traditional bathtubs in small or medium-sized bathroom, a new idea that design of collapsible bathtub was presented. The foldable bathtub adopted with stepped sidewall thickness and non-toxic, tasteless and easy to deform silicone rubber material to realize the folding. The finite element method was used to calculate the stress and deformation of bathtub under hydrostatic pressure. The results show that the rectangular section bathtub in two kinds of cross-section shape bathtub is more suitable for family use, while the round section bathtub is suitable for small size cases such as children and pets. The new bathtub is simple in structure, safe in folding process, small in volume after folding, light in weight and easy to carry. It provides possibility for popularizing sanitary ware in small and medium-sized apartments.