Prediction of anisotropic properties of an injection molded product

The material properties of a discontinuous fiber reinforced plastic material are greatly influenced by the changes in fiber direction, form (aspect ratio), and content rate that occur during forming. This is why a proper prediction of mechanical properties requires taking into account the effects of the forming factors.

Use Cases Highlights

Improving the accuracy of structural analysis for fiber-reinforced resin products
Considering the effects of the molding process

From resin flow simulation to structural simulation

In this case study, injection forming simulation of a discontinuous fiber reinforced plastic material was performed using the resin flow simulation software Moldex3D. Moldex3D’s “iARD-RPR Model” was used to predict the post-forming fiber orientation.

After injection molding a rectangular plate of PP which contains 30% glass fiber, the fiber orientation was measured at the area shown in the image below, “Prediction of the fiber orientation distribution (Moldex3D)”. Based on the measured fiber orientation information, J-Composites / Fiber Mapper was able to build an anisotropic nonlinear material model for structural simulation which can predict product properties accounting for the effects of the forming factors.

Prediction of the fiber orientation distribution (Moldex3D)

Validation of simulated material properties against a dumbbell tension test