Numerical Simulation of a Core–Shell Polymer Strand in Material Extrusion Additive Manufacturing

Material extrusion additive manufacturing (ME-AM) techniques have been recently introduced for core–shell polymer manufacturing. Using ME-AM offers improved mechanical properties and dimensional accuracy over conventional 3D-printed polymer. Operating parameters play an important role in forming the overall quality of manufactured products. Here we use numerical simulations within framework computation fluid dynamics (CFD) to identify best combination operating 3D printing a strand. The objectives these CFD are find strands with ultimate volume fraction core At same time, complete encapsulations obtained inside shell one. In this model, deposition flow is controlled by three dimensionless parameters: (i) diameter ratio material nozzle, d/D; (ii) normalised gap between extruder build plate, t/D; (iii) velocity moving plate average V/U. Numerical results deposited strands’ cross-sections demonstrate effects controlling on encapsulation shape size Overall that d/D=0.7, t/D=1, V/U=1.