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Modeling material property heterogeneity in fiber‐reinforced injection molded plastic parts
Author(s) -
Pochiraju Kishore,
Jovanović Vojin
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
polymer composites
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.577
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1548-0569
pISSN - 0272-8397
DOI - 10.1002/pc.20080
Subject(s) - materials science , composite material , homogenization (climate) , stiffness , molding (decorative) , finite element method , anisotropy , modulus , transfer molding , structural engineering , mold , biodiversity , ecology , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering , biology
Fiber reinforced plastic parts manufactured by injection molding have heterogeneous stiffness and strength behavior due to the molding process influence on the fiber orientations. This paper presents a methodology for determining the process‐dependent anisotropic and inhomogeneous mechanical properties of injection‐molded parts using a thickness‐wise layered homogenization technique. This technique produces an equivalent laminated meso‐scale representation at any location in the part and enables point‐wise application of the existing laminated plate and shell theories. The methodology is demonstrated by illustrating property variations in edge‐gated and center‐gated plaques. Spatial variations of elastic moduli, shear modulus, and Poisson's ratio are modeled. The model can be conveniently embedded within finite element structural analyses accounting for the process‐dependent material heterogeneities within the structure. POLYM. COMPOS., 26:98–113, 2005. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers