Selection of criteria for optimizing the location of the melt feed point at injection molding of structures made of short-reinforced composite materials

This paper describes the selection of the optimization criterion for the location of the melt feed point in the mold so that the weld line is located away from the stressed parts of the structure. The problem is solved using a genetic algorithm. Three target functions were considered: the minimization of the average stresses on the weld lines; minimization of the maximum stresses on the weld lines; and minimization of the sum of the average and maximum stresses on the weld lines. The convergence of the algorithm for each criterion is evaluated. Statistical processing of data on the speed of finding the optimal solution in each case is also performed. On the basis of the results obtained, a criterion is selected that allows reducing the calculation time and obtaining the coordinates of the melt feeding point, which allows feeding the melt into the mold, avoiding the formation of weld lines in the loaded areas.