Finite Element Simulation and Experimental Study on Blow Forming of Plastic Cups

Abstract:

Blow forming process of plastic sheets is simple and easy to realize, thus, it is widely used for plastic thin-wall parts. In the practical production, an effective method is needed for the preliminary set-up of process parameters in order to achieve accurate control of thickness distribution. Thus, a finite element method (FEM) code is used to simulate blow forming process. For better description of complex material theological characteristics, a physically based viscoelastic model (VUMAT forms Buckley model) to model the complex constitutive behavior is used. Nonlinear FE analyses using ABAQUS were carried out to simulate the blow forming process of plastic cups. The actual values at different locations show a satisfactory agreement with the simulation results: as a matter of fact the error along the cell mid-section did not exceed 0.02 mm on average, corresponding to 5% of the initial thickness, thus the FE model this paper can meet the requirements of the engineering practice.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volumes 148-149)
• Pages: 1319-1322
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.148-149.1319
• Online since: December 2011
• Authors: Xiao Hu, Yi Sheng Zhang, Hong Qing Li, De Qun Li
• Keywords: Blow Forming, Buckley Model, Finite Element (FE) Simulation

References

[1] Zheng Chao, Zhang Yi-sheng: PVC Sheet Blow Forming Finite Element Simulation and Experimental Study,  Key Engineering Materials Vols. 467-469 (2011) pp.1846-1851.

DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/kem.467-469.1846

[2] C. P. Buckley and D. C. Jones: Glass–rubber constitutive model for amorphous polymers near the glass transition. Polymer 36(1995) 3301–3312.

DOI: 10.1016/0032-3861(95)99429-x

[3] C. P. Buckley, D. C. Jones and D. P. Jones: Hot-drawing of poly (ethylene terephthalate) under biaxial stress: application of a three-dimensional glass–rubber constitutive model. Polymer 37(1996) 2403–2414.

DOI: 10.1016/0032-3861(96)85352-3

[4] A. M. Adams: Biaxial drawing of amorphous polymer films near the glass transition. Ph. D thesis, Oxford University , UK, (1995).

[5] A. M. Adams, C. P. Buckley and D. P. Jones: Biaxial hot-drawing of poly(ethylene terephthalate): measurements and modeling of strain-stiffening. Polymer 41(2000) 771–786.

DOI: 10.1016/s0032-3861(98)00834-9