AbstractA generalized Eulerian‐Lagrangian approach is used to study the compression molding of viscoelastic polymers. The complete, unsteady, two‐dimensional equations of motion are used in the analysis. The White–Metzner model is used to describe the constitutive behavior of the material. The solution is obtained using a mixed Galerkin finite element method. An automatic remeshing scheme is introduced to reduce the mesh distortion during the solution procedure. Results for the pressure and force required in mold closing are presented for the isothermal filling of a rectangular cavity. © 1992 John Wiley&Son