Computer aided die design: A new open-source methodology

Abstract

In this work we present a detailed description of how to use open source based computer codes to aid the design of complex profile extrusion dies, aiming to improve its flow distribution. The work encompasses the description of the overall open-source die design methodology, the implementation of the energy conservation equation in an existing OpenFOAM® solver, which will be then capable of simulating the steady non-isothermal flow of an incompressible generalized Newtonian fluid, and two case studies to illustrate the capabilities and practical usefulness of the developed methodology. The results obtained with these case studies, used to solve real industrial problems, demonstrate that the computational design aid is an excellent alternative, from economical and technical points of view, to the experimental trial-and-error procedure commonly used in industry.