A model of fibre migration in staple-fibre yarn

A new method of modelling fibre migration in a staple-fibre yam has been de veloped. The method uses a Markov process and allows all of the main featur es of yarn structure, such as irregularities of fibre disposition in a cros s-section, unevenness, and hairiness, to be modelled. A novel experimental method is reported which allows the paths of individual fibres in yarn cros s-sections to be defined in three dimensional space, It has been shown that the fibre-migration can be considered as a Poisson's flow of events, and t hat fibre migration characteristics can be expressed in terms of a transiti on matrix. The method is able to describe a wide range of different yam str uctures. The model would be improved by taking account of the fact that fib re migration between zones is not a memory-less process, but the problems a ssociated with making this improvement have yet to be resolved.