| Summary: | Yes === Here the design and functional optimisation of thermoformed thin-walled structures
made from plastics is considered. Such objects are created in great numbers especially
in the food packaging industry. In fact these objects are produced in such vast numbers
each year, that one important task in the design of these objects is the minimisation of
the amount of plastic used, subject to functional constraints. In this paper a procedure for
achieving this is described, which involves the automatic optimisation of the mold shape
taking into account the strength of the final object and its thickness distribution, thus
reducing the need to perform inefficient and expensive `trial and error¿ experimentation
using physical prototypes.
An efficient technique for parameterising geometry is utilised here, enabling to create a
wide variety of possible mold shapes on which appropriate analysis can be performed. The
results of the analysis are used within an automatic optimisation routine enabling to find
a design which satisfies user requirements. Thus, the paper describes a rational means for
the automatic optimal design of composite thermoformed thin-walled structures.
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