A NOVEL-APPROACH TO 3-DIMENSIONAL MODELING OF INTERLACED FABRIC STRUCTURES

This paper attempts the geometric modeling of woven and braided fabric structures in three dimensions using a computer aided geometric desig n (CAGD) technique. A new symbolic approach to fabric structure repres entation, which is useful to the textile CAD/CAM process and fabric de sign, is presented, and a basic model is proposed that treats a yarn a s a three-dimensional solid object. Some traditional 2D fabric models an extended into 3D models and demonstrated in 3D form. The structures of various fabrics are demonstrated in graphic forms, including eleme ntary weaves such as plain weave, twill, and satin; two layer fabrics; braided fabrics; and three-dimensional fabrics as reinforcements for composite materials.