Injection moulding simulation of filling and post-filling stages based on a three-dimensional surface model

Abstract Filling and post-filling simulation packages of injection moulding have had success in predicting the behaviour of a polymer melt in extremely complicated geometries. Most of the current numerical solutions are based on a hybrid finite element-finite difference scheme and the middle-plane model. This middle-plane model leads to substantial defects during applications of the simulation tools. Instead of using the middle plane as the datum plane, the surfaces of the cavity are used as datum planes in this paper. Additional boundary conditions in the gapwise direction are employed to keep the flows in the surfaces at the same section coordinated. Also, comparisons with the experimental results obtained with instrumented test mould and C-Mold results show that this presented simulation is correct and reliable.