The Direct Fiber Simulation (DFS) can be used to study fiber interactions during molding processes to better understand effects such as fiber-matrix separation, fiber orientation, and fiber breakage. It models fibers as a series of beams as seen below on the right. All effects during processing, including hydrodynamic forces and torques, elastic forces and torques within the fiber, fiber-fiber contact forces, fiber friction forces, and fiber-mold interactions are considered.
This work can be applied to compression molding, as well as controlled environments like those seen in a rheometer. It is suitable for either thermoset or thermoplastic materials.
Current research focuses in the following areas:
- Fiber Attrition in Injection Molding
- Fiber-Matrix Separation of Ribbed Components
- Fiber Orientation in Injection Molding
Figure 1
