A Computational Study of Stentering Process of 3D Mesh Fabric

Three-dimensional (3D) mesh fabric has a one-piece sandwich structure, consisting of two separate outer layers linked together with a layer of spacer monofilaments. Its intermeshed monofilament architecture provides excellent cushioning and ventilation properties, making the 3D mesh fabric ideal for ventilated car seats. This paper presents a computational study to examine how stentering affects the mesh and monofilament structure of a typical 3D mesh fabric. Experimentally validated finite element (FE) models of the fabric stentering process and its compression following stentering were developed. The structural changes of the fabric in the stentering process were quantitatively analysed in terms of global fabric deformation, mesh deformation, and spacer monofilament deformation. The numerical and experimental results indicate that stentering opens up the meshes differently across the width, with the intermediate mesh being more open and uniform than the two selvage meshes. Stentering sufficiently is essential for obtaining a 3D mesh fabric with uniform meshes. Two adjacent wales of spacer monofilaments are inclined and twisted symmetrically in the stentering process. After stentering, the 3D mesh fabric has more inclined, twisted, and sparse spacer monofilaments, which reduces its compression resistance. By utilising different stentering ratios, 3D mesh fabrics can be engineered to form various monofilament architectures to suit a variety of different applications.