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Nonwovens/​Converting

Fraunhofer Institute introduces new FIDYST nonwoven software

With the tool FIDYST, it has been possible for the first time to simulate the movement of fibres in turbulent air currents.

24th March 2017

Innovation in Textiles
 |  Kaiserslautern

Transport/​Aerospace, Medical/Hygiene, Civil Engineering, Industrial

Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM in Kaiserslautern has developed special software called the FIDYST tool (Fibre Dynamics Simulation Tool), designed to make the production of nonwoven products more efficient and flexible. The innovation will be demonstrated at the upcoming INDEX17 exhibition that takes place from 4-7 April in Geneva.

With the tool FIDYST, it has been possible for the first time to simulate the movement of fibres in turbulent air currents, according to researchers. In the production of nonwoven materials, the fibres or threads are each stretched with the aid of air and deposited onto a conveyor belt. Depending on the speed and temperature of the air stream, a nonwoven product with the desired structure, density and strength results is achieved.

One widely used application is random web, in which the individual fibres display a diverse orientation, thereby forming a random web which is simultaneously voluminous and firm.

Benefiting textile manufacturers

How precisely the fibres move in the airflow and in which orientation they land on the conveyor belt is computed by the simulation software FIDYST. After simulating the airflow, the user only has to enter the material properties of the fibres in the software. The software then simulates the dynamic behaviour of thousands of fibres. Even fibre mixtures can be simulated with the software. The result can be visualised in a 3D representation.

Equipped with this data, the manufacturer can then improve the air flow in a targeted manner. This results in a nonwoven fabric with the desired specification while at the same time reducing energy and raw material consumption, according to researchers. The software simulation can calculate that by changing the configuration of the machine, fewer fibres are needed to produce a nonwoven fabric with the desired structure and strength.

The Fraunhofer tool not only benefits the textile manufacturers who want to precisely configure their machines for every desired nonwoven product. “Mechanical engineers can also use it to create machines that are as efficient and flexible as possible,” explained Dr Simone Gramsch, FIDYST Project Manager at ITWM.

Unique feature

After the calculation, the data can be exported in the EnSight Gold Case format and then visualised and analysed. The format is standard in applications that deal with the visualisation and analysis of flow dynamics of all kinds, such as in aircraft or automotive engineering, but also in sports or medicine.

“The development is the result of several years of research as well as a few doctoral theses. It has been worth it, though. With FIDYST, we have a unique feature,” commented project manager Simone Gramsch.

The ITWM licenses the software to mechanical engineers or textile manufacturers. “If necessary, we also offer FIDYST as a service; then, all the simulations are executed on our computers according to the specifications of the customer,” said Gramsch. “This is useful when it comes to particularly complex and, therefore, computer-intensive projects.”

www.fraunhofer.de

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