New computer geometric modeling approach with filament assembly model for woven fabric structures

This paper presents a new computer geometric modeling approach for three-dimensional woven fabric structures. Pierce’s geometry of the weave fabric of yarn from an arc abscissa (Peirce’s) model is presented. Then, new algorithms with a filament assembly model for a single yarn composed of many filaments by twisting along the crimp shape in the warp/weft is developed. The concept of a virtual location is used to simulate the fiber distributions in the yarn cross-section. Each cross-section is rotated along the yarn length by a pre-determined amount to allow for the yarn twist. The curve of each filament in each two successive cross-sections is approximated by NURBS and then each curve is created by sweeping a closed curve along the centerline of the yarn path. The method described is demonstrated by the CAD model of woven fabrics with plain and twill weaves. The simulated woven fabrics using this approach can demonstrate a wider variety and improved visual simulations of real woven fabric and can then be further generalized for different and more complicated fabrics. The method is necessary as an input to many computational models, such as modeling the mechanical properties or the heat transfer of fabrics or composite parts.