Modeling a Fabric Drape Profile

Abstract

This paper presents a model for predicting fabric drape profiles using polar coordinates. The drape coefficient (DC%), node locations, node numbers, and node shape in the fabric drape profile can be predicted accurately with this model. Polar coordinate fitting is used to determine the constants in the drape profile model, and good agreement is obtained between the theoretical and experimental drape profiles of thirty-five woven fabrics. In addition, constants in the drape profile model may also be obtained by bending and shear hysteresis using regression analysis. Good agreements are found between the calculated DC% and the experimental DC% for the fabrics examined in this study. This means a drape profile may be directly predicted from bending and shear hysteresis. Moreover, better prediction of the fabric drape profile may be obtained from the mean value taken in the warp, weft, and ±45° directions than that in the warp and weft directions.