An open-source framework for the computer aided design of complex profile extrusion dies

Abstract

This work presents a new design procedure for improving the flow distribution in complex profile extrusion dies. The proposed approach is based on open source software and aims to motivate both academics and industrials to consider numerical methodologies in their future developments. A new solver was implemented in OpenFOAM computational library in order to model the steady non-isothermal flow of inelastic fluids. The developed code was verified with the Method of Manufactured Solutions. The capability of the proposed design procedure was experimentally assessed with an industrial case study, and the results obtained suggest that the computational based design aid is an excellent alternative to the usual experimental trial-and-error procedure used in industry.