Title of the Thesis:
Predicting Preform Behavior in Extrusion Blow Molding Using Open-Source Simulation
Description:
Extrusion blow molding enables the cost-effective production of plastic hollow bodies with complex geometries and varying volumes. Blow-molded components are used in industries such as food, cosmetics, automotive, and chemical. The main objective is to minimize the use of plastic and achieve a part with minimal and homogeneous wall thickness distribution. However, predicting the deformation of the preform under swelling and weight forces is challenging, and this objective is not always achieved in practice.
This thesis is related to the following research project:
In this research project, an open-source simulation model will be used to predict the behavior of the preform. By comparing it with experimental data, a model will be developed to predict the influence of using recycled plastics on the preform behavior.
Objective:
The aim of this thesis is to investigate the swelling behavior of the preform for different process points. Numerical flow simulations will be conducted, considering various non-Newtonian effects of the molten plastic and weight forces. The material model should be able to omit data that can only be obtained through complex measurement procedures.
For a Bachelor's thesis, you will work on the following tasks:
- Development and fitting of a suitable material model
- Conducting simulations of preform extrusion for different operating points
- Evaluation of the swelling behavior depending on the operating point
For a Master's thesis, you will work on the following tasks:
- Development and fitting of a suitable material model
- Conducting simulations of preform extrusion for different operating points
- Evaluation of the swelling behavior depending on the operating point
- Practical validation in blow molding experiments
Profile:
- Engineering-oriented studies such as Mechanical Engineering, Computational Engineering Science, Simulation Sciences, etc.
- Interest in application-oriented simulations
- Ability to independently tackle complex problems and enjoy practical experiments
If you have further questions or are interested in working on this topic, please feel free to contact me via email or phone.
Contact:
Jana Sasse, M.Sc.
Phone: 0241 80-27271
Email: jana.sasse@ikv.rwth-aachen.de