BOUNDARY-ELEMENT STUDY ON PARTICLE ORIENTATION CAUSED BY THE FOUNTAIN FLOW IN INJECTION-MOLDING

A boundary element model is used for simulating the fountain flow in injection molding. The particle orientation caused by the fountain effect is illustrated with a tracer-in-domain technique which is similar to the Marker-And-Cell technique. The efficiency and accuracy of the boundary element model are shown through this simulation, in determination of the free surface shape, and the particle orientation patterns. Clear and correct information is obtained to interpret the complicated effects upon formation of the orientation, especially regarding the ''V'' shape pattern in the skin areas. The simulation is in agreement with both Schmidt's experiment and some finite element analysis.