FINITE-ELEMENT CONTRIBUTIONS TO GLASS MANUFACTURING CONTROL AND OPTIMIZATION .1. CREEP FORMING OF FLAT VOLUMES

Finite element models seem to be an efficient design aid and optimisat ion tool for the manufacture of flat and hollow glass products. In Par t 1 of this paper, numerical simulations are first used for the analys is of reference critical forming cases of flat glass products: for exa mple, the solution is numerically found for the separation during cree p forming of a reference rear screen by way of local temperature incre asing and/or corner radius input. In addition, pertinent information o n manufacturing limits is defined in terms of bending radii for typica l glass products, in order to meet the authorised design limitations, with regard to current manufacture potential. In Part 2, finite elemen t models will be used to analyse the blowing of a decanter, centrifugi ng of a plate and pressing of a glass insulator, solutions to manufact uring problems are also found from numerical simulations.