Three dimensional nonwoven materials and methods of manufacturing such materials are disclosed. An absorbent article can include an absorbent body and an outer cover. The absorbent article can also include a fluid-entangled nonwoven material. The absorbent body can be disposed between the fluid-entangled nonwoven material and the outer cover. The fluid-entangled nonwoven can include a first surface and a second surface. The nonwoven material can also include a plurality of nodes extending away from abase plane on the first surface towards the absorbent body. The nonwoven material can further include a plurality of openings extending from the first surface to the second surface through the fluid-entangled nonwoven material. Individual openings of the plurality of openings can be disposed between adjacent nodes of the plurality of nodes.

A nonwoven fabric. The nonwoven fabric can include a first surface and a second surface and a visually discernible pattern of three-dimensional features on one of the first or second surface. Each of the three-dimensional features can define a microzone comprising a first region and a second region. The first and second regions can have a difference in values for an intensive property. The nonwoven further has a plurality of apertures, wherein at least a portion of the aperture abuts at least one of the first region and the second region of the microzone.

A patterned apertured web is disclosed. The patterned apertured web includes a plurality of land areas in the patterned apertured web and a plurality of apertures defined in the patterned apertured web. At least some land areas of the plurality of land areas surround at least some apertures of the plurality of apertures. The patterned apertured web has an Effective Open Area in the range of about 3% to about 30%, according to the Aperture Test herein. The patterned apertured web has a plurality of Interaperture Distances, according to the Aperture Test herein. The Interaperture Distances have a distribution having a median and a mean. The plurality of apertures include a first set of apertures defining a first shape and a second set of apertures defining a second shape.

A patterned apertured web is disclosed. The patterned apertured web includes a plurality of land areas in the patterned apertured web and a plurality of apertures defined in the patterned apertured web. At least some land areas of the plurality of land areas surround at least some apertures of the plurality of apertures. The patterned apertured web has an Effective Open Area in the range of about 3% to about 30%, according to the Aperture Test herein. The patterned apertured web has a plurality of Interaperture Distances, according to the Aperture Test herein. The Interaperture Distances have a distribution having a median and a mean. The plurality of apertures include a first set of apertures defining a first shape and a second set of apertures defining a second shape.

A through-air thermally bonded nonwoven fabric is provided. The nonwoven fabric can include a first surface and a second surface and a visually discernible pattern of three-dimensional features on one of the first or second surface. Each of the three-dimensional features can define a microzone comprising a first region and a second region. The first and second regions can have a difference in values for an intensive property, wherein at least one of the surfaces has a TS7 value of less than about 15 dB V.sup.2 rms, and wherein the first surface has a TS7 value that is higher than the second surface TS7 value.

A method for making nonwoven fabric. The nonwoven fabric can include three-dimensional features that define a microzone comprising a first region and a second region. The first and second regions can have a difference in values for an intensive property. The nonwoven further has a plurality of apertures, wherein at least a portion of the aperture abuts at least one of the first region and the second region of the microzone.

An apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent core includes: a dispenser for dispensing a fiber; a fiber-stacking drum for stacking the dispensed fiber on the outer circumferential surface while sucking the fiber toward an inside; and a fixed frame for rotatably supporting the fiber-stacking drum. The fiber-stacking drum includes: a rotation shaft; a wheel attached to the distal end of the rotation shaft; and a fiber-stacking ring provided on an outer circumference portion of the wheel for stacking the fiber A suction chamber is fixed to the fixed frame The suction chamber is arranged on an inner side of the fiber-stacking ring and produces a suction force toward an inner circumference of the fiber-stacking ring. The fiber-stacking drum is supported by the fixed frame so as to be slidable in an axial direction of the rotation shaft; and the wheel is removably attached to the distal end of the rotation shaft via a fastener.

A patterned apertured web is disclosed. The patterned apertured web includes a plurality of land areas in the patterned apertured web and a plurality of apertures defined in the patterned apertured web. At least some land areas of the plurality of land areas surround at least some apertures of the plurality of apertures. The patterned apertured web has an Effective Open Area in the range of about 3% to about 30%, according to the Aperture Test herein. The patterned apertured web has a plurality of Interaperture Distances, according to the Aperture Test herein. The Interaperture Distances have a distribution having a median and a mean, wherein the mean is different than the median. The plurality of apertures include a first set of apertures defining a first shape and a second set of apertures defining a second shape. The first shape is positioned within the second shape.

A nonwoven fabric comprises a first surface, a second surface, and a visually discernible pattern on at least one of the first and second surfaces. The visually discernible pattern has a regular, repeating pattern of three-dimensional features. Each of the three-dimensional features define a microzone comprising a first region and a second region. The first and second regions having a difference in values for an intensive property. The first surface has a TS7 value in the range of about 1 dB V.sup.2 rms to about 15 dB V.sup.2 rms. The second surface has a TS7 value in the range of about 1 dB V.sup.2 rms to about 15 dB V.sup.2 rms. A ratio of the TS7 value of the first surface to the TS7 value of the second surface is in the range of about 1 to about 3.

An absorbent hygienic article for absorbing body fluids, the article including a liquid absorbent top layer and a backing layer, the top layer and the backing layer being made from roll materials and being joined together. The top layer is constituted by a cellulosic fibrous web, the fibres in the cellulosic fibrous web being constituted by a mixture of cellulose fibres, the mixture including regenerated cellulose fibres or natural cellulose staple fibres and cellulose pulp fibres, the cellulosic fibrous web being a foam-formed, hydroentangled cellulosic fibrous web.