Multiscale Simulations of Flows of a Well-Entangled Polymer Melt in a Contraction–Expansion Channel

A Multiscale Simulation of Polymer Melt Injection Molding Filling Flow Using SPH Method with Slip-Link Model

In this article, a multiscale simulation method of polymer melt injection molding filling flow is established by combining an improved smoothed particle hydrodynamics method and clustered fixed slip-link model. The proposed method is first applied to the simulation of HDPE melt in a classic Poiseuille flow case, and then two high-speed and high-viscosity injection molding flow cases in two simple long 2D rectangular cavities with and without a circular obstacle, respectively, are analyzed. For each case, the macro velocity results, and the micro average number of entanglements Z_ave and orientation degree S results are demonstrated and discussed, and the changing trends of Z_ave and S are analyzed. The results of the two injection molding cases are compared, and the influence of the obstacle on the injection flow at both the macro and micro levels is analyzed. Furthermore, based on the multiscale results, reason of some structural features and defects in injection molded products are analyzed.