3-D Numerical Simulation of Blow Moulding Technology Involving Sequential Coextrusion

Abstract A 3-D numerical simulation is presented for typical applications in blow moulding involving sequential coextrusion. This technology is applied for the production of automotive boots and opaque containers or bottles with a window stripe. A fluid membrane element is developed and presented for the blow moulding simulation of geometrically complex objects. A Lagrangian formulation is used for the motion governing equations. The numerical tool is applied for predicting the material behaviour in the production of an automotive boot and of a soap bottle with a window stripe. The contact between parison and mould is handled by a robust algorithm. Next to the description of the parison deformation, we concentrate on the prediction of wall thickness, both axial and circumferential extension components and the area stretch ratio as well.