In contrast to composites and woven fabrics, nonwoven materials have a unique web structure, which is composed of randomly oriented fibres bonded in a pattern by mechanical, thermal or chemical techniques. The type of nonwovens studied in this research is a thermally bonded one with polymer-based bicomponent fibres. Such fibres have a core/sheath structure with outer layer (sheath) having a lower melting temperature than that of the core. In thermal bonding of such fibres, as the hot calender with an engraved pattern contacts the fibrous web, bond points are formed thanks to melting of the sheath material. Molten sheath material acts as an adhesive while core parts of the fibres remain fully intact in the bond points. On the other hand, web regions, which are not in contact with the hot engraved pattern, remain unaffected and form the fibre matrix that acts as a link between bond points. With two distinct regions, namely, bond points and fibre matrix, with different structures, nonwovens exhibit a unique deformation behaviour. This research aims to analyse the complex mechanical behaviour of thermally bonded bicomponent fibre nonwoven materials using a combination of experimental and numerical methods. A novel approach is introduced in the thesis to predict the complex mechanical behaviour of thermally bonded bicomponent fibre nonwovens under various threedimensional time-dependent loading conditions. Development of the approach starts with experimental studies on thermally bonded bicomponent fibre nonwovens to achieve a better understating of their complex deformation characteristics. Mechanical performance of single bicomponent fibres is investigated with tensile and relaxation tests since they are the basic constituents of nonwoven fabrics. The fabric microstructure, which is one of the most important factors affecting its mechanical behaviour, is examined with scanning electron microscopy and X-ray micro computed tomography techniques. At the final part of experimental studies, mechanical response of thermally bonded bicomponent fibre nonwovens is characterised with several mechanical tests. (Continues...).

<p>A new model for simulating non-Brownian flexible fibres suspended in a Newtonian fluid has been developed. Special attention has been given to include realistic flow conditions found in the industrial papermaking process in the key features of the model; it is the intention of the author to employ the model in simulations of the forming section of the paper machine in future studies.</p><p>The model considers inert fibres of various shapes and finite stiffness, interacting with each other through normal, frictional and lubrication forces, and with the surrounding fluid medium through hydrodynamic forces. Fibre-fluid interactions in the non-creeping flow regime are taken into account, and the two-way coupling between the solids and the fluid phase is included by enforcing momentum conservation between phases. The incompressible three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations are employed to model the motion of the fluid medium.</p><p>The validity of the model has been tested by comparing simulation results with experimental data from the literature. It was demonstrated that the model predicts the motion of isolated fibres in shear flow over a wide range of fibre flexibilities. It was also shown that the model predicts details of the orientation distribution of multiple straight, rigid fibres in a sheared suspension. Model predictions of the viscosity and first normal stress difference were in good agreement with experimental data found in the literature. Since the model is based solely on first-principles physics, quantitative predictions could be made without any parameter fitting.</p> / <p>En ny modell för simulering av rörelserna hos icke-Brownska böjliga fibrer dispergerade i en Newtonsk vätska har utvecklats. Eftersom det är författarens avsikt att modellen skall kunna tillämpas vid simulering av arkformning under de förhållanden som råder i en modern pappersmaskin, har särskilt omsorg givits till att inkludera motsvarande flödesvillkor i modellens giltighetsområde.</p><p>Modellen hanterar fibrer av varierande form, massa och styvhet, som växelverkar sinsemellan via normal-, friktions- och smörjkrafter. Deras växelverkan med den omgivande vätskan sker via hydrodynamiska krafter vid finita Reynolds-tal. Den så kallade tvåvägskopplingen mellan fibrerna och vätskefasen har tagits i beaktande genom att kräva att rörelsemängden bevaras vid interaktionen mellan faserna. Vidare har Navier-Stokes ekvationer för inkompressibla vätskor använts för att beskriva mediets rörelser.</p><p>Modellens giltighet har undersökts genom att jämföra resultat från simuleringar med experimentella data från litteraturen. Det har påvisats att modellen förutsäger rörelsen hos ensamma fibrer i ett skjuvflöde, för vitt skilda fiberflexibiliteter. Det visades också att modellen förutsäger detaljer hos fiberorienteringsdistributionen i suspensioner utsatta för skjuvflöde. Det kunde också konstateras att modellens förutsägelser av fibersuspensioners viskositet och första normalspänningsdifferens under skjuvning väl överensstämde med experimentella data i litteraturen. Kvantitativa förutsägelser har kunnat göras utan någon parameteranpassning, då modellen bygger uteslutande på väletablerade fysikaliska samband inom klassisk mekanik och strömningslära.</p>

A new model for simulating non-Brownian flexible fibres suspended in a Newtonian fluid has been developed. Special attention has been given to include realistic flow conditions found in the industrial papermaking process in the key features of the model; it is the intention of the author to employ the model in simulations of the forming section of the paper machine in future studies. The model considers inert fibres of various shapes and finite stiffness, interacting with each other through normal, frictional and lubrication forces, and with the surrounding fluid medium through hydrodynamic forces. Fibre-fluid interactions in the non-creeping flow regime are taken into account, and the two-way coupling between the solids and the fluid phase is included by enforcing momentum conservation between phases. The incompressible three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations are employed to model the motion of the fluid medium. The validity of the model has been tested by comparing simulation results with experimental data from the literature. It was demonstrated that the model predicts the motion of isolated fibres in shear flow over a wide range of fibre flexibilities. It was also shown that the model predicts details of the orientation distribution of multiple straight, rigid fibres in a sheared suspension. Model predictions of the viscosity and first normal stress difference were in good agreement with experimental data found in the literature. Since the model is based solely on first-principles physics, quantitative predictions could be made without any parameter fitting. / En ny modell för simulering av rörelserna hos icke-Brownska böjliga fibrer dispergerade i en Newtonsk vätska har utvecklats. Eftersom det är författarens avsikt att modellen skall kunna tillämpas vid simulering av arkformning under de förhållanden som råder i en modern pappersmaskin, har särskilt omsorg givits till att inkludera motsvarande flödesvillkor i modellens giltighetsområde. Modellen hanterar fibrer av varierande form, massa och styvhet, som växelverkar sinsemellan via normal-, friktions- och smörjkrafter. Deras växelverkan med den omgivande vätskan sker via hydrodynamiska krafter vid finita Reynolds-tal. Den så kallade tvåvägskopplingen mellan fibrerna och vätskefasen har tagits i beaktande genom att kräva att rörelsemängden bevaras vid interaktionen mellan faserna. Vidare har Navier-Stokes ekvationer för inkompressibla vätskor använts för att beskriva mediets rörelser. Modellens giltighet har undersökts genom att jämföra resultat från simuleringar med experimentella data från litteraturen. Det har påvisats att modellen förutsäger rörelsen hos ensamma fibrer i ett skjuvflöde, för vitt skilda fiberflexibiliteter. Det visades också att modellen förutsäger detaljer hos fiberorienteringsdistributionen i suspensioner utsatta för skjuvflöde. Det kunde också konstateras att modellens förutsägelser av fibersuspensioners viskositet och första normalspänningsdifferens under skjuvning väl överensstämde med experimentella data i litteraturen. Kvantitativa förutsägelser har kunnat göras utan någon parameteranpassning, då modellen bygger uteslutande på väletablerade fysikaliska samband inom klassisk mekanik och strömningslära.