Computational Evaluation of Weaving Process on Mechanical Stiffness of Plain Weave Fabric

Inherent structural stress in a plain weave is induced during the formation process of fabrics, and its evaluation is useful for estimating the mechanical stiffness of weaves. In this study, the effect of inherent stress distributed in a weave fabric was investigated to estimate its mechanical stiffness. Here, a numerical simulation method that imitates the fabrication process of fabrics is proposed to evaluate stiffness. A diagram illustrating the weaving process is defined in this evaluation method. For computational analysis, a unit cell model used in homogenization was developed based on the structural periodicity of the plain weave structure using the finite element method. The weaving state was accomplished by simulating the weaving behavior in this model. The weaving state included the geometric shape and stress/strain data. Subsequently, a model was built to estimate the mechanical stiffness based on the weaving state data. Finally, a uniaxial tensile simulation was conducted using the numerical model. Using this evaluation method, the effect of inherent stress on the mechanical stiffness of weaves was quantified, which indicated that the tensile stiffness improved in a small strain range. The effect gradually decreased as the tension progressed.