A finite element analysis of an auxetic warp-knitted spacer fabric structure

This paper reports the tensile deformation behavior of an auxetic warp-knitted spacer fabric structure by using the finite element (FE) method. The precise geometry of the outer layer structure of the fabric was firstly obtained from a micro X-ray computerized tomography scan and then inputted to an ANSYS 13.0 software to generate geometrical models. The geometrical models were then meshed using the PLANE 183 element to build FE models. Based on the FE models built, deformation behaviors of the auxetic fabric in the course direction and wale direction were simulated and compared with experimental results. The FE analysis showed that the simulated fabric deformations at different tensile strains were very close to the real fabric deformations and the FE-generated Poisson's ratio-strain curves agreed well with the experimental ones. Therefore, the FE models could be used for predicting the deformation behaviors of the auxetic warp-knitted spacer fabric stretched in different fabric plane directions.