Virtual Engineering Centre - Examples of Virtual Prototyping and Multidisciplinary Design Optimization

The requirement for the use of Virtual Engineering, encompassing the construction of Virtual Prototypes using Multidisciplinary Design Optimisation, for the development of future aerospace platforms and systems is discussed. Some of the activities at the Virtual Engineering Centre, a University of Liverpool initiative, are described and a number of case studies involving a range of applications of Virtual Engineering illustrated.

Understanding the Behaviour of PET in Stretch Blow Moulding

This paper is concerned with understanding the behaviour of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) in the injection stretch blow moulding (ISBM) process where it is typically bi-axially stretched to form bottles for the packaging industry. Preforms which have been pre sprayed with a pattern and heated in an oil bath have been stretched and blown in free air using a lab scale ISBM machine whilst being monitored via high speed video. The images have subsequently been analysed using a digital image correlation system (VIC 3D). Results are presented showing the typical deformation modes and strain rates encountered in the ISBM process.