Parameter identification of transport PDE/nonlinear ODE cascade model for polymer extrusion with varying die gap

A new transport PDE/nonlinear ODE cascade model is proposed to simulate extrudate thickness for polymer extrusion with varying die gap. The model is developed to simulate extrusion in extrusion blow moulding. A finite element method simulator is used as a reference for the proposed model to replicate its time dependent extrudate thickness profile. The parameters of the proposed model are identified by minimizing the response error between the proposed model and the finite element method simulator due to step inputs. The novel model is computationally cheap, suitable for controller design, and effective in simulating the extrudate thickness.