Modeling water permeability in needle-punched nonwovens using finite element analysis

Abstract

This paper presents the results from a study on the water permeability behaviour of nonwovens produced from the hemp fibres. Three different types of needle-punched nonwovens are produced by varying the feed rate of fibres during the needle-punching process. The pore size in the nonwovens is measured by liquid extrusion porometry. Water permeability is measured by the water permeability tester. A finite element analysis is employed to predict the flow velocity through the nonwovens. A good correlation is achieved between the average velocity data obtained from water permeability test and theoretical prediction based on finite element analysis