Abstract
The paper presents the multidisciplinary studies dedicated to the minimization of the residual stresses in an Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene part. The first stage of the study consists of an experimental research employed to measure the physical characteristics of the polymeric material. The next stage is a simulation of the moulding process for a plate-wise specimen made of the material previously tested, being interested by the values of the residual stresses. The next stage is the experimental research of the residual stresses by the use of the hole-drilling method applied on the previously simulated plate-wise specimen. The results of the two studies are close one to the other and the conclusion regarding the material and the parameters employed for the simulation are used for the next study dedicated to the simulation of the moulding process for a complex part. Several studies were performed in order to find the best parameters of the moulding process which lead to a minimum level of the residual stresses. Other parts made of the same material may be also simulated in order to minimize the residual stresses. We conclude considering that a high degree of confidence regarding the results of the numerical model may be achieved only if the results of experimental studies are employed. Keywords: polymeric part, residual stress, experiment, numerical model, applications