Abstract:
An automated geometric characterisation tool for woven reinforcement textiles has been developed and is presented. This tool is used to obtain the in-plane geometry of woven textiles. The image of the textile is captured using a standard office scanner, eliminating the need for complex set up and specialised equipment. The controlled lighting provided by the scanner also enables any fibre material to be analysed, and examples of glass and carbon textiles are presented. The steps used in the processing technique are discussed, along with the resulting geometric information for the materials studied. The extracted information can be used to provide a better understanding of the reinforcing material properties, for example, compaction response and permeability. A study has been conducted, which shows how the geometric characteristics can be used to predict the fabric permeability.