Textile mechanics
TexGen has been used to create the geometry of fabrics for meso-scale textile mechanics modelling. Meshing can either be done directly within TexGen or geometry can be exported to the two most common CAD exchange file formats, IGES and STEP. Alternatively Python scripts can be used to transfer geometry to specific third party applications such as ABAQUS.
The in-house finite element analysis software features periodic boundary conditions as well as a periodic contact algorithm eliminating the need for elements to be contained within a set unit cell (This is illustrated in the Figure 1). Compressional deformations are applied by parallel planes above and below the fabric. Tensile, shear and bending deformations are applied by adjusting the repeat vectors. Using this approach, strains can easily be applied in a consistent manner without overconstraining the model[1].
Work using the commercial finite element software package ABAQUS has also been carried out investigating the effect of fabric architectures on fabric mechanical properties. Figure 2 shows the effect of yarn crimp height on a unit cell compression behaviour[2].
References
- ↑ M. Sherburn, "Geometric and Mechanical Modelling of Textiles", Thesis in preparation, 2007, Nottingham, UK.
- ↑ H. Lin, M. Sherburn, A. C. Long and M. J. Clifford, "Integrated Multi-Scale Modelling for Garment Design", Proceedings of the 85th Textile Institute World Conference, 1-3rd March 2007, Sri Lanka, Colombo.
