Modelling of human-mimetic surfaces for fabric drape testing

What is it about?

This study establishes a computer modelling workflow to develop curvature-driven human-mimetic surfaces for enhanced fabric drape testing. The four-stage workflow analysed curvature metrics (mean, Gaussian and principal) across 10 ASTM-compliant female avatars (sizes 2…20; 301.941 sampling points), classified surfaces into convex, saddle and concave types, and synthesised parametric models using four curve forms, namely, cubic Bézier, cubic B-spline, quadratic Bézier and quarter-ellipse. The generated surfaces were validated via seven non-parametric statistical indicators, and evaluated in Clo3D simulations by comparing stress distributions and drape properties against flat discs. Curvature analysis revealed that convex (45,4…49,7%) and saddle (48,6…52,7%) surfaces dominate anatomical topography. Quarter-ellipse models achieved superior curvature replication, up to 99,6% coverage. Simulations confirmed human-mimetic surfaces localise warp/weft stresses on protrusions and shear stresses in transitions, aligning with stress distribution in clothing, unlike uniform stress distribution on flat discs. An open-access library of 34 validated surfaces (17 convex-saddle pairs, diameters 20…857 mm) was published. This study was supported by the Russian Science Foundation under Project № 25-11-00022 ‘A technology of testing textile materials in a virtual environment for 3D modeling of clothes’.

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Why is it important?

Standard drape testing relies on flat disc-shaped supporting tables. These tables fail to replicate mechanical textile-body interactions governed by complex geometries of anatomical surfaces. The new approach aims to enhance deformation analysis by creating shapes representing curvature of the body while ensuring compatibility with existing protocols.

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