Aspects herein are directed to a tensioning device for a strand on a knitting machine. The tensioning device includes a mounting plate that may be positioned between a strand source and a feeder bar. The mounting plate supports a first pulley, a second pulley and a weighted third pulley that is movable with respect to the first pulley and the second pulley. By routing a strand over the first pulley, under the third pulley and over the second pulley, additional tension may be added to the strand through the weight of the third pulley.

Aspects herein are directed to a tensioning device for a strand on a knitting machine. The tensioning device includes a mounting plate that may be positioned between a strand source and a feeder bar. The mounting plate supports a first pulley, a second pulley and a weighted third pulley that is movable with respect to the first pulley and the second pulley. By routing a strand over the first pulley, under the third pulley and over the second pulley, additional tension may be added to the strand through the weight of the third pulley.

A plastic fabric using a different-melting point core-sheath structure fiber comprises a top layer fabric, a support layer, and a bottom layer fabric. The top layer fabric is fabricated with a different-melting point fiber, which comprises a core-sheath structure including a core and a sheath wrapping the core. The core has a melting point higher than that of the sheath. The bottom layer fabric is disposed on one side of the top layer fabric. The support layer is disposed between the top layer fabric and the bottom layer fabric. As the core has a melting point higher than that of the sheath, the different-melting point fiber has superior dimensional stability and permanent shape memory after heat treatment for plastic shaping.

A method for additively manufacturing a textile sheet product and a three-dimensionally printed textile sheet product (1) are disclosed. The method includes the steps of creating a three-dimensional model of the pre-product and additively manufacturing the pre-product according to the three-dimensional model of the pre-product. In additive manufacturing, a production material is applied layer by layer in this case. At at least one predetermined crossover position of at least two fibrous structures (2a, 2b) and a separation layer material is applied which can be removed from the pre-product and/or inactivated.

A method for additively manufacturing a textile sheet product and a three-dimensionally printed textile sheet product (1) are disclosed. The method includes the steps of creating a three-dimensional model of the pre-product and additively manufacturing the pre-product according to the three-dimensional model of the pre-product. In additive manufacturing, a production material is applied layer by layer in this case. At at least one predetermined crossover position of at least two fibrous structures (2a, 2b) and a separation layer material is applied which can be removed from the pre-product and/or inactivated.

A method of manufacturing a fabric structure for use in manufacturing a composite aircraft blade. The method comprises: combining yarns including both reinforcing material filaments and a matrix material with yarns of reinforcing material filaments and/or yarns including at least one filament of matrix material; or by combining yarns of reinforcing material filaments with yarns including at least one filament of matrix material; or by combining yarns each comprising both reinforcing material filaments and matrix material. Combining may comprise weaving, knitting or braiding. The matrix material may be a thermoplastic.

A method of manufacturing a fabric structure for use in manufacturing a composite aircraft blade. The method comprises: combining yarns including both reinforcing material filaments and a matrix material with yarns of reinforcing material filaments and/or yarns including at least one filament of matrix material; or by combining yarns of reinforcing material filaments with yarns including at least one filament of matrix material; or by combining yarns each comprising both reinforcing material filaments and matrix material. Combining may comprise weaving, knitting or braiding. The matrix material may be a thermoplastic.

Computer implemented method, system and computer program product for simulating the behavior of a knitted fabric at yarn level. The method comprises: retrieving structural information of a knitted fabric; representing each stitch with four contact nodes (4) at the end of the two stitch contacts (5) between pair of loops (2), each contact node (4) being described by a 3D position coordinate (x) and two sliding coordinates (u, v) representing the arc lengths of the two yarns in contact; measuring forces on each contact node (4) based on a force model including wrapping forces to capture the interaction of yarns at stitches; calculating the movement of each contact node (4) at a plurality of time steps using equations of motion derived using the Lagrange-Euler equations, and numerically integrated over time, wherein the equations of motion account for the mass density distributed uniformly along yarns, as well as the measured forces and boundary conditions.

Computer implemented method, system and computer program product for simulating the behavior of a knitted fabric at yarn level. The method comprises: retrieving structural information of a knitted fabric; representing each stitch with four contact nodes (4) at the end of the two stitch contacts (5) between pair of loops (2), each contact node (4) being described by a 3D position coordinate (x) and two sliding coordinates (u, v) representing the arc lengths of the two yarns in contact; measuring forces on each contact node (4) based on a force model including wrapping forces to capture the interaction of yarns at stitches; calculating the movement of each contact node (4) at a plurality of time steps using equations of motion derived using the Lagrange-Euler equations, and numerically integrated over time, wherein the equations of motion account for the mass density distributed uniformly along yarns, as well as the measured forces and boundary conditions.

A fabric that includes a loop of a yarn including a voltage generating filament. The fabric has a value of X of 1,000 or more, where X=(A+B)×C×D×E, and wherein: A is a loop angle of the loop of the yarn when the fabric is stretched by 10%, B is a connection angle of the loop of the yarn when the fabric is stretched by 10%, C is a number of the loops of the yarn per 1 cm.sup.2 of the fabric, D is a force (N) applied per basis weight (g/m.sup.2) of the fabric, and E is a surface potential (V) of the yarn.