Integrated Woven Fabric Junction Strength
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional open box-like woven fabrics used in aerospace and automotive industries have weak junctions between the base wall and side walls, which compromises the structural integrity of the reinforcement fabric.
Innovation Solution
An integrated open box-like woven fabric design featuring outer and inner walls with side and bottom extensions, formed from a flattened fabric preform with interwoven yarns, where the fabric layers are foldably/unfoldably connected to enhance structural strength and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional stitching method is used to assemble base wall and side walls, then manufacturing process is simple, but junction strength is weak
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the base wall and side walls into a single integrated woven fabric structure, eliminating separate stitching operations. The fabric is designed with continuous yarn paths that seamlessly connect different wall sections, creating inherent structural strength without additional joining mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The junction reinforcements are built into the fabric structure during the weaving process itself, before the fabric is applied to reinforcement structures. Extra yarns and structural features are pre-positioned at junction areas to provide enhanced strength from the outset.
2Reliability
If integrated one-piece weaving technology is used to strengthen structure, then junction strength is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated fabric is designed with modular repeating units that can be systematically arranged. Each unit contains standardized wall sections and junction configurations, allowing complex structures to be built from simple, repeatable patterns that are easier to manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The fabric structure employs different weaving patterns and yarn configurations in different areas. Junction regions have enhanced yarn density and structural features, while wall sections use simpler patterns, optimizing both strength and manufacturability where needed.
Data Source
AI summary
An open box-like woven fabric includes two inner walls connected transversely between two outer walls, and a base wall connected to the outer and inner walls oppositely of a top opening formed between the outer and inner walls. Each outer wall has an outwardly extending side extension, and the base wall has an outwardly extending bottom extension. The open box-like woven fabric is formed from a novel flattened fabric preform.