Modelling and computer-aided design of 3D hollow woven reinforcement for composites

Three-dimensional (3D) hollow woven structures, used as reinforcement for composites requiring special properties such as lightweight and energy absorption, are one fabric type that the conventional weaving technology is capable of manufacturing. However, the fact that the design of these structures is complex, and this complication has limited the possibility for such structures being used in creating composites with novel properties. This paper explains the modelling of 3D hollow woven structures and describes the methodology for the design and manufacture of such structures. As a result, the weaves that represent 3D hollow structures and the instruction code for manufacturing them are created after the structural parameters are specified. The code can then be passed to control the electronic shedding mechanisms of weaving machines. This paper also deals with the visualisation of the 3D hollow structures using non-uniform rational B-spline curves and surfaces, aiming to provide assistance to the design and manufacturing processes.