A modified micromechanical model for the prediction of tensile behavior of nonwoven structures

Nonwoven structures have a range of applications which include geotextiles, interlinings, carpet backing and as reinforcements in composites. In this study, the tensile behavior of nonwoven structures including needlepunched and thermal bonded has been predicted by modifying the micromechanical model based upon the geometrical and mechanical properties of the constituent fibers (Adanur, S. and Liao, T. (1999). Fiber Arrangements Characteristics and Their Effects on Nonwoven Tensile Behavior, Textile Research Journal, 69(11): 816-824). In the modified model, the effects of fiber orientation in addition to the fiber curl factor are incorporated. The theoretical models have been validated with experimental results. The effects of lapping angle and curl factor have also been investigated on the thermal bonded nonwoven structures. Furthermore, the distribution of fiber orientation within a nonwoven structure is related to the lapping and fiber orientation angles using Fourier series. © 2006 Sage Publications.