The Computerised Weaving of Preforms for Composites. Part III: The Generation of a 3D Net-shaped Preform Weave Pattern and Weaving Instructions

Abstract

The algorithms required for generating the weaving instructions (jacquard designs) for weaving truly 3D preforms in flattened form on conventional 2D looms are described. The basic approach is to divide the flattened structures into areas, each area into levels, and each level into fabric layers. Together with the chosen basic weave (plain, twill, satin, etc.) and the required number of shuttle paths, the number and size of these structural elements determine the size, in terms of numbers of ends and picks, of the over-all weave repeat of the whole structure. In principle, several repeats of the same structure can be woven side by side, but the structures chosen for analysis were too large for this purpose. In the warp direction, however, any desired number of repeats could be woven.