Automatic Remeshing Scheme for Modeling Hot Forming Process

Many intrinsic problems associated with the modeling of hot forming processes are described. In the updated Lagrangian finite element technique both the momentum and energy equations are formulated to accommodate moving meshes. Forming processes have several characteristics: no-slip conditions with transient free surfaces; strong thermal and flow coupling; and moving fluid/solid contact points. Due to the no-slip condition at the walls, the Lagrangian mesh is distorted. Two related numerical algorithms, an automatic remeshing scheme and a moving contact point definition, are developed and incorporated into a finite element code for incompressible viscous flow with temperature-sensitive viscosity. The application of this newly developed code for analyzing the glass pressing process demonstrates the capability of this powerful engineering tool.