Finite element modeling and simulating pilling of polyester fabric

Purpose The paper aims to build a finite element simulation model for pilling of polyester hairiness on the fabric to study the effects of hairiness performance on pilling and reveal pilling mechanisms. Design/methodology/approach The finite element simulation model of pilling of polyester hairiness was established by ABAQUS. Polyester hairiness was treated as elastic thin rod, which was divided by two-node linear three-dimensional truss element. The effects of hairiness elastic modulus, hairiness friction coefficient and hairiness diameter on frictional dissipation energy, strain energy and kinetic energy produced by pilling have been studied. The analysis solution values were compared with the finite element simulation results, which was used to verify finite element simulation. Findings The paper provides new insights about how to reveal pilling mechanisms of polyester hairiness with different performance. Comparing finite element simulation results with analysis solutions shows that the fitness is greater than 0.96, which verifies finite element simulation. Larger hairiness elastic modulus gives rise to higher friction dissipation energy and strain energy of hairiness but lower kinetic energy. Increasing friction coefficient enhances friction dissipation and strain energy of hairiness. However, kinetic energy decreases with the increase of friction coefficient. Hairiness diameter also has an important effect on hairiness entanglement and pilling. Increasing hairiness diameter can decrease friction dissipation energy but enhance strain energy and kinetic energy. Research limitations/implications Finite element simulation was verified by analysis solutions. The solutions include friction dissipation energy, strain energy and kinetic energy, which cannot measured b experiment. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to simulate pilling to obtain pilling grades, which be compared with experiment results. Originality/value Pilling of polyester hairiness was simulated by ABAQUS. This method makes pilling process visualization, and pilling mechanisms was revealed from non-linear dynamics.