Analysis of Filling in Injection Molding with Compressibility

Abstract

In this study, the compressibility of resin was considered in filling analysis to account for the possible packing type flow. A numerical simulation program employing a hybrid finite element/finite difference scheme was developed to solve Hele-Shaw flow of the compressible viscous fluid at non-isothermal conditions. To advance the melt front, a control volume approach was adopted. Thin complex 3-D shapes of cavities, runners, and sprues were discretized by employing triangular, cylindrical and/or rectangular strip elements. Mass conservation was applied to each control volume to solve for the pressure distribution. Directly applying a constant mass flow rate at the inlet removes calculation of the apparent pressure boundary conditions, resulting in better simulation condition. The Cross model was used to model viscosity and the Tait equation was employed to represent density as a function of temperature and pressure. The validity of the developed program was verified through comparisons with available data in the literature and the effect of compressibility on the pressure distribution was discussed. To reduce computation time, 1-D and 2-D elements were used instead of applying triangular elements and the numerical results were compared to each other.