Abstract: A simulation of the assembled flow domain composed of screw elements and kneading blocks in an experimental intermeshing co-rotating twin screw extruder with 34 millimeter diameter has been carried on. The pressure distribution of three dimensional flow field at different screw phase angle was obtained. Then the variation of pressure of the observing point located in the assembled flow domain against the phase angle was analyzed. The melt filled length of assembled flow domain in the extruding process was forecasted at two different flow rates. Meanwhile an experiment was made to validate the analysis result. It showed that the melt filled length could be forecasted through the flow field simulation, with an error less than 10%. And in the forecasted filled length, the measured pressure fluctuation of observing point was got within the forecasted pressure fluctuation.

Key words: intermeshing co-rotating twin screw extruder, assembled screw, flow field simulation, filled length, prediction