Dynamic Knitting Simulation for Predicting Defects of Knitted Fabrics

Knit products are widely used in people's daily lives because of their high functionality. Most such knit products are usually made of flat knitted fabric, which is the basic structure of knitted fabrics, and this unique structure of flat knitting gives knit products high functionality. However, a defect called Yotari often occurs during the creation of flat knitting. Since it impairs appearance and functionality of knit products, knit products must be knitted in such a way that it does not occur. However, the mechanism of it has not been theoretically elucidated, and there is a need to predict the occurrence of the problem and to investigate its causes. The purpose of this research is to predict the occurrence and determine the cause of it by dynamically analyzing yarns knitted on a knitting machine. In this paper, the hypothesis of the cause of it is verified. First, yarn is modeled based on its mechanical properties. Next, contact and friction that occur during knitting process are formulated. Finally, knitting process using a knitting machine is dynamically simulated to test the hypotheses of it.