Computational design of porous stochastic fibre network structure

A novel methodology to design porous fibre network structure or material has been proposed. The methodology is computational in nature considering a MATLAB based algorithm, which was uniquely devised to achieve stochastic fibre networks with layered structure. The fibre network architecture that is actively controlled by the algorithm includes network porosity, fibre orientation distribution and fibre-segment aspect ratio. The algorithm generates coordinates of individual fibres which are then modelled into a planar mesh. Further, the fibre network structure is achieved by stacking layers of several such meshes considering an inter-mesh overlap volume. The designed porous structure has achieved close to 90% porosity. Its fibre orientation distribution was isotropic with fibres laying uniformly in all directions in the mesh planes. Overall, the developed porous fibre network structure has been computationally validated to possess the desired structural parameters.