Spherically Curved Woven Fabrics - Shaping on the Loom

Abstract

Fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) structures are established in numerous lightweight solutions. Among textile products available for technical applications, flat woven fabrics are commonly used to produce 3D components. In order to convert the flat woven structures into 3D geometries, draping and cutting processes are applied primarily. This leads to structural distortions, yarn interruption and overlaps of the layers. Beside the resulting reduction of mechanical properties, manual work steps are necessary. 3D woven fabrics offer outstanding possibilities for realizing net-shape FRP lightweight structures while avoiding these disadvantages. A current challenge in the manufacture of 3D net-shape structures is the direct generation of desired geometry during the weaving process. The aim of the presented work is the development of a novel weaving technology that enables the creation of spherically curved woven fabrics. Constructive-technological solutions are presented and the required mathematical as well as weaving modelling is shown.