Introduction

This website introduces polyXtrue Coextrusion Die Module.  The tutorials are intended as a hands on introduction to the software and the menus.

Overview of polyXtrue Coextrusion Die Module

This module of the polyXtrue software simulates three-dimensional isothermal flow of two different polymers through an extrusion die. The simulation is based upon generalized Newtonian formulation. The software uses tetrahedral finite elements to discretize the die geometry, whereas the interface is represented by a mesh of triangular finite elements.

The coextrusion simulation employs the mesh partitioning technique. This new algorithm allows coextrusion simulation without modifying the mesh as the interface shape between the adjacent polymer layers develops during the simulation. The use of a fixed finite element mesh for coextrusion simulation is possible because in the new algorithm the interface between the two polymers is not required to match with an inter-element boundary of the tetrahedral elements in the mesh. Instead, by partitioning the tetrahedral elements intersected by the interface into two tetrahedral, pyramidal or prismatic finite elements, in the new coextrusion simulation algorithm, the interface is allowed to pass through the interior of the tetrahedral elements in the original finite element mesh.

More details of the mesh partitioning technique are available in this ANTEC 2008 paper.