Simulation of polyurethane foaming process based on physical property parameters

Abstract To address the complexity and high degree of idealization in the numerical simulation of polyurethane foaming in thermal insulation layers, a simulation model based on material parameters was developed. This model focuses on the dynamic variations in density and viscosity during the foaming process. Material properties are defined using a User-Defined Function (UDF), and the accuracy of the model was validated by comparing simulation results with experimental data. The results show that the average errors in simulated density and viscosity changes are 5.81 % and 7.94 %, respectively, when compared with experimental data. These results indicate that the model accurately captures the evolution of polyurethane foam properties during foaming. Finally, the accuracy of the model is further demonstrated through the application of the model to a specific refrigerator structure as a case study. This study provides valuable insights for analyzing the foaming and molding behavior of polyurethane in insulation layers for optimized process design.