Why are food cans not just plain, smooth metal?

[AndiFlatland]

It seems that all food cans have rippled sides, and concentric rings on the top and bottom lids. Why is this? Why are they not just plain, smooth metal?

[vulcan]

I think the ripples give extra strength to the sides.

[snags]

They are built in to give the can structural strength. A can with no ridges would crush much easier.

[JonnyBoy12]

A canner exceedingly canny,
Once remarked to his granny,
"A canner can can,
Anything that he can,
But a canner can't can a can, can he?"

[AndiFlatland]

vulcan42 (good number...) & snags: Not convinced on that - how does it work for cans, but not for concertinas?
JonnyBoy12: Like that one - hope I can remember it when I get home (where I have no internet... only tin cans and some cats.

[ChuckFickens]

" Not convinced on that - how does it work for cans, but not for concertinas? "

You're thinking in the wrong direction, it's not to stop the can being crushed top to bottom, it's to stop the sides crushing in.

[kitty123]

LOL... johnyboy

[kitty123]

And i can can can cannot spell (jonny)

[maggiebee]

Slow day on AB today?

[Old_Geezer]

Surely Suzi Quatro canned the can ?

[AndiFlatland]

maggiebee: How fast do you want it?