Numerical simulation of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene material's vacuum forming process

In this paper a vacuum forming simulation together with the experimental re sults is presented. In order to establish a material model which could desc ribe the polymers deformation behavior precisely, the authors conducted uni axial tensile tests using the newest type of Meissner rheometer with an acr ylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) material. The tests were conducted for c onstant strain-rates varying from 0.01 to 1 (1 s(-1)), at temperatures rang ing from 150 to 200 degrees C. A new material model, based on the test data was proposed, in which the combined effects of strain-hardening, strain-ra te sensitivity, and temperature variation can be taken into account. Excell ent agreement with uniaxial tensile test data was obtained. The vacuum form ing processes of a square cup, under different initial temperatures, were s imulated employing the proposed material model and the results compared wit h those of experiment, the simulated final thickness distribution showing a good correspondence to the measured thickness values. Published by Elsevie r Science S.A. All rights reserved.