Automated geometric modelling of textile structures

TLDR

Accurate input measurements of fabric geometry are critical for successful results. The study presents TexGen, an automated method for modeling textile geometry, evaluates its performance on various commercial fabrics, and outlines future improvements. TexGen automatically generates yarn geometry and interlacement for any weave, allows local cross‑section variation for interference correction, and produces meshes, contact definitions, material orientations, and boundary conditions for finite‑element analysis. Comparisons of real fabric images with TexGen models confirm that the software accurately reproduces complex fabric architectures, including twisted yarns with variable cross‑sections.

Abstract

An automated approach (TexGen) for modeling the geometry of textile structures is presented. This model provides a generic approach to the description of yarn geometry and yarn interlacement for all types of weaving. One feature of this model is that the shape and size of the cross sections may change locally; this is exploited in the functions for interference correction, which modify the textile according to geometric considerations to avoid penetration of yarns. Another feature of this model is that it acts as a pre-processor for finite element simulations by generating a mesh, definition of contact, materials orientation and boundary conditions, thus providing an automatic procedure. This paper describes the modeling techniques, algorithms and concepts implemented in TexGen and examines the functionality of their implementation for a range of two-dimensional/three-dimensional commercial fabrics. Comparisons between the images of real fabrics and modeled fabric structures confirm that the software is capable of modeling sophisticated fabric architectures, including twisted yarns with varied yarn cross sections. Accurate input measurements of fabric geometry are critical for successful results. The paper also discusses directions for further development of the approach to overcome current limitations.