Numerical Simulation of the Tension and Compression Behaviour of Warp Knitted Reinforcements

The modelling of knitted structures is a complex process, consisting of several steps: a) building the model of geometry of the knitted structure, b) refinement of this geometry under consideration of the mechanical properties of the yarns and the knitting and relaxation process parameters, c) modelling of the mechanical or other behaviour of the structure. During the last years models for the simplified geometry of the warp knitted structures were presented. The knowledge and software, based on these models is used for the calculation of the geometry of the structure. After that, the simulated structure is used for automated generation of FEM mesh for simulation of tensile behaviour of the structure. A modified geometry is used as well as input for the modelling of the compression behaviour of spacer fabrics.