This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Google Scholar Articles by Labeas, G.N. Articles by Katsiropoulos, Ch. V. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Thermomechanical Simulation of Infrared Heating Diaphragm Forming Process for Thermoplastic Parts

Laboratory of Technology & Strength of Materials, Department of Mechanical Engineering & Aeronautics, University of Patras Panepistimioupolis Rion, 26500 Patras, Greece, labeas{at}mech.upatras.gr

V.B. Watiti

Laboratory of Technology & Strength of Materials, Department of Mechanical Engineering & Aeronautics, University of Patras Panepistimioupolis Rion, 26500 Patras, Greece

Ch. V. Katsiropoulos

Laboratory of Technology & Strength of Materials, Department of Mechanical Engineering & Aeronautics, University of Patras Panepistimioupolis Rion, 26500 Patras, Greece

An innovative methodology for the thermomechanical simulation of the infrared heating diaphragm forming (DF) process is proposed. In the first section of the paper, the heat transfer mechanisms between the infrared (IR) heating lamps and the thermoplastic plate are simulated, and the effect of the various preheating parameters on the heating time and temperature distribution is investigated. In the second section, the mechanical deformation of the thermoplastic component is simulated to enable prediction of heat losses due to the plate contact with the mold. Based on the developed simulation methodology, the main process parameters — e.g., the number, location, and power of IR lamps for optimal preheating; the heat losses during plate deformation; and the minimum required mold temperature throughout the forming phase — are derived for five different thicknesses. The optimization results show that the forming parameters considered influence the heating of the plate in a complex and interactive way; in addition, it is found that with increasing plate thickness, the heating time required to reach the desired temperature also increases.

Key Words: numerical model • diaphragm forming • infrared heating • thermoplastic material • process optimization.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?