3D simulation and parametric analysis of polymer melt flowing through spiral mandrel die for pipe extrusion

Nie, Yi; Hao, Jing; Lin, Yueh-Jaw; Sun, Wei

Abstract

With the increasing demands for large scale and high productivity, polymer pipes are recently produced using the advanced spiral mandrel dies. However, the fundamental research related to polymer melt flow mechanism in the spiral mandrel die for pipe extrusion is lagging behind. In the present study, the mathematical model for such a complex three-dimensional non-isothermal viscous flow of polymer melts obeying power law model was developed based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) theory. Finite volume element method was applied to predict the rheological behaviours of polymer melt flowing through the complex flow channel. The essential flow characteristics including velocity, pressure drop, wall shear stress and temperature were investigated. The effects of both mandrel structure parameters and mass flow rate upon the flow patterns were further discussed. Some recommendations on spiral mandrel die design for pipe production were put forward.

Citation

Nie, Y., Hao, J., Lin, Y.-J., & Sun, W. (2018). 3D simulation and parametric analysis of polymer melt flowing through spiral mandrel die for pipe extrusion. Advances in Polymer Technology, 37(8), 3882-3895

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 27, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Jan 29, 2019
• Publication Date: Dec 31, 2018
• Deposit Date: Jan 10, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 1, 2020
• Journal: Advances in Polymer Technology
• Print ISSN: 0730-6679
• Electronic ISSN: 1098-2329
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 37
• Issue: 8
• Pages: 3882-3895
• Keywords: Extrusion; Spiral mandrel die; 3D simulation; Polymer melt
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1463385
• Publisher URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/adv.22171
• Additional Information: This is the peer reviewed version of the article, which has been published in final form at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/adv.22171. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.
• Contract Date: Jan 10, 2019