A comparison between experiments and predictions for the blow molding of an industrial part

We present a numerical simulation for the blow molding of an industrial hig h density polyethylene part. The rheology of the polymeric material is desc ribed by means of an integral viscoelastic fluid model with a multi-mode re laxation spectrum. A membrane element is applied for performing the blow mo lding simulation of geometrically complex objects such as a bottle with a h andle; the motion governing equations are described by means of a Lagrangia n representation. The contact between the parison and the moving mold is ha ndled by means of a robust algorithm. The numerical tool is applied for the production of a bottle with a handle. The predicted results are compared w ith their experimental counterparts. In particular, we focus on the thickne ss distribution of the blow product.