Objective Software was developed to simulate the injection moulding of complex thin parts of thermoplastic polymers. A specific element of the development was to exploit the flexibility and accuracy of the finite element method. Using this method, a well behaved mesh covering the whole midsurface was defined.It was also essential to accurately calculate thermal evolution during the filling and packing stages, since the polymer is conditioned by the temperature field prevailing at the end of these stages.The results gained by numerical simulation were analysed against experimental data achieved using a special optical fibre apparatus. The 2 sets of results showed high correlation. The characteristics of the material were shown to follow Cross's law.WHILE THE DESIGN OF OUR PARTS IS BASED ON EXPERIENCE AS FAR AS THEIR FUNCTIONAL ASPECT IS CONNECTED, THE COMPLEX PHYSICAL BEHAVIOUR OF POLYMERS DURING THEIR TRANSFORMATION MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO PREDICT MOULDABILITY AND TO REGULATE THE PROCESS ON THE SOLE BASIS OF EXPERIENCE.THIS DIFFICULTY OF PREDICTING PROCESSING CONDITIONS REQUIRES AN ITERATIVE, LONG AND COSTLY TUNING OF MOULDING TOOLS, UNLESS MATHEMATIC PREDICTIVE TECHNIQUES ARE MADE AVAILABLE.THE GOAL OF THE PRESENT PROJECT IS TO BUILD A SOFTWARE WHICH ACCURATELY MODELS THE FLOW OF POLYMERS IN COMPLEX GEOMETRIES WHICH ARE PROPER TO INDUSTRIAL ELECTROMECHANICAL PARTS.SUCH A SOFTWARE IS AN INESCAPABLE TOOL WITH A VIEW TO A COMPLETE STUDY OF THE MOULDING PROCESS. Fields of science natural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftwaresocial sciencessociologyindustrial relationsautomationnatural scienceschemical sciencespolymer sciencesnatural sciencesmathematicspure mathematicsgeometrynatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsfibre optics Programme(s) FP1-BRITE - Multiannual research and development programme (EEC) in the fields of basic technological research and the applications of new technologies (BRITE), 1985-1988 Topic(s) Data not available Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator Télémécanique Électrique SA Address 33 bis avenue du maréchal joffre 92002 Nanterre France See on map EU contribution € 0,00 Participants (2) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all UNIVERSITE CATHOLIQUE DE LOUVAIN Belgium EU contribution € 0,00 Address Place de l'universite 1 Louvain-la-neuve See on map Links Website Opens in new window University of Wales, Aberystwyth United Kingdom EU contribution € 0,00 Address Old college king street SY23 2AX Aberystwyth See on map
