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This work investigates crystallization modeling by modifying an open-source computational fluid dynamics code OpenFOAM. The crystallization behavior of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) is implemented according to theoretical and experimental literature. A number of physical interdependencies are included. The cavity is modeled as deformable. The heat transfer coefficient in the thermal contact towards the mold depends on contact pressure. The thermal conductivity is pressure- and crystallinity-dependent. Specific heat depends on temperature and crystallinity. Latent heat is released according to the crystallization progress and temperature. Deviatoric elastic stress is evolved in the solidified material. The prediction of the cavity pressure evolution is used for the assessment of the solution quality because it is experimentally available and governs the residual stress development. Insight into the thermomechanical conditions is provided with through-thickness plots of pressure, temperature and cooling rate at different levels of crystallinity. The code and simulation setup are made openly available to further the research on the topic.

Injection molded products, produced from semi-crystalline polymers may include undercut features which can introduce distortion to the shape of the product during ejection. A thermo-mechanical modeling approach for simulating these advanced ejection problems is developed. The approach is formed by combining a method for three-dimensional residual stress prediction and an advanced material model for modeling the solid visco-elastoplastic mechanical behavior. The task of this work is to assess, by analyzing a plaque-like product, the performance of the approach in the absence of the distortive ejection effects. The numerically predicted product shrinkage and mass at different packing pressure settings are compared to experimental results. The effect of packing pressure on product shrinkage and mass was reproduced by the model and the final residual stress field was found to be in accordance with the expectations. This confirms that the methodology could be used to analyze advanced ejection problems.