A kinetic grid for fabric draping simulation

In allusion to the hot issue of fabric simulation, this paper proposes a kinetic grid for reproducing the drape profile of fabric in three-dimensional space. In our model, the interaction inside fabric is built up through a constraint factor as well as an attenuation factor, and the contact between the flexible body of the fabric and the rigid plane is emulated with a touch-counteract mechanism. The forces on the particles in the grid, which are calculated with grid deformation, are then used to generate the additional displacement of the grid. Evolution of the grid is led by step-by-step iteration so that the draping kinetics of the virtual fabric can be achieved. When the draping process meets its steady state, the drape coefficient is worked out through identifying and quantifying the projection area of the grid. The unevenness of the ripples along the drape surface is characterized and manifested by emulating the mechanical anisotropy of the fabric through differentiated constraint factors. The evolution algorithm is improved and an optimized version that reduces calculation error using the third-order Taylor theorem is presented, by which a smoother curved surface for the drape can be produced. The convergence of the grid under different fineness values is explored to reveal the capacity of the model, and a reasonable grid scale has been identified. The computed drape is then compared to a real drape featuring different strengths in the warp and weft, and adjusted to meet the target drape coefficient, as well as drape unevenness considering the anisotropy index. The result shows they are properly matched. The virtual drape is also tested in additional scenes including square support with sharp corners, one-way overhanging and mixed. It has turned out to be a simple, rapid and precise model for fabric drape simulation and assessment.