Three-dimensional fiber segment orientation distribution using X-ray microtomography.
The orientation of fibers in assemblies such as nonwovens has a major influence on the anisotropy of properties of the bulk structure and is strongly influenced by the processes used to manufacture the fabric. To build a detailed understanding of a fabric's geometry and architecture it is important that fiber orientation in three dimensions is evaluated since out-of-plane orientations may also contribute to the physical properties of the fabric. In this study, a technique for measuring fiber segment orientation as proposed by Eberhardt and Clarke is implemented and experimentally studied based on analysis of X-ray computed microtomographic data. Fiber segment orientation distributions were extracted from volumetric X-ray microtomography data sets of hydroentangled nonwoven fabrics manufactured from parallel-laid, cross-laid, and air-laid webs. Spherical coordinates represented the orientation of individual fibers. Physical testing of the samples by means of zero-span tensile testing and z-directional tensile testing was employed to compare with the computed results.
1Nonwovens Research Group,Centre for Technical Textiles,School of Design,University of Leeds,Leeds,LS2 9JT,UK.
Muhammad
M
Tausif
3Oxford Centre for Collaborative and Applied Mathematics,University of Oxford,Oxford OX1 3LB,UK.
Brian
B
Duffy
1Nonwovens Research Group,Centre for Technical Textiles,School of Design,University of Leeds,Leeds,LS2 9JT,UK.
Sergei
S
Grishanov
4School of Computing,University of Leeds,Leeds LS2 9JT,UK.
Hamish
H
Carr
1Nonwovens Research Group,Centre for Technical Textiles,School of Design,University of Leeds,Leeds,LS2 9JT,UK.
Stephen J
SJ
Russell