Computer aided design of preforms for injection stretch blow moulding

Simulations of the injection blow moulding process have been performed using the Abaqus finite element package. The simulations have been developed using three different material models (creep, hyperelastic and Buckley) and the thickness predictions have been compared against those obtained experimentally. The Buckley model was found to be the most efficient material model to model the blow moulding process. This model is now being used to investigate the design and development of preforms. A methodology has been developed to use the material distribution produced by the simulation to predict the shelf life of the container. A FORTRAN subroutine has been written which accesses the properties of each element of the model and from these properties the shelf life can be found.