| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/M38070/01 |
| Title: |
COMPUTATIONAL MODELLING OF THERMOFORMING AND IN-MOULD-DECORATION PROCESSES |
| Principal Investigator: |
Whiteman, Professor J |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Brunel Inst for Computational Maths |
| Organisation: |
Brunel University London |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 September 1999 |
Ends: |
31 August 2002 |
Value (£): |
178,754
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| Manufacturing |
No relevance to Underpinning Sectors |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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The purpose of the project is to produce robust effective computational models of thermoforming and in-mould-decoration processes. The performance of thermoforming procedures, whereby thin multilayered polymeric sheets are inflated under pressure into moulds, is dependent on process conditions such as the non-isothermal environment, the form of the contact of the sheet with the mould, the geometry of the mould (often complicated), and the materials being used. The proposers already have a working computational algorithm to simulate thermoforming processes based on finite elastic deformation and conditions of total sticking of the sheet when it makes contact with the mould. It is known that the sheets undergo some irreversible plastic flow, that the materials being deformed exhibit other time dependent effects, and that sag and buckling of the sheets occurs during the initial heating. stage of the process. This project will investigate the importance of all these features on effective computational modelling of thermoforming processes. Further, simulation of the IMD process will be incorporated into the algorithm, and the role played by the properties of thin printed film components of the multilayered sheets will be investigated.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.brunel.ac.uk |