RESUMO
In this study, various nylon fabrics were investigated to measure the physical properties of the actual fabric using Kawabata systems and CLO fabric kits, and the correlation between the physical and drape properties of the fabric was statistically analyzed. Subsequently, the CLO fabric kit results were used as basic data for the CLO three-dimensional (3D) virtual clothing program, and the drapeability of the virtual fabrics was measured. The factors with the most significant effect on the drape properties were analyzed by comparing the drape measurement of the real fabrics through the variable measurement of various fabrics and correlation analysis with the drape properties, and attempts were made to reduce the difference between real fabrics and their virtual implementations. The correlation analysis results revealed that both the Kawabata system and CLO fabric kit results indicated that the bending and shear properties exhibited the highest correlation with the drape ratio. In addition, the comparison of the real and virtual fabric images revealed that they exhibited a similar morphology. Furthermore, the results confirmed that the difference between the real and virtual fabrics could be reduced as much as possible when the values measured using the Kawabata system and CLO fabric kit were converted into a database. Subsequently, the differences between virtual fabrics with various thicknesses were confirmed through CLO 3D simulation. The findings of this study are expected to be used as basic data for building fabric database.
RESUMO
Lymphedema is a non-curative chronic swelling caused by impairment of the lymphatic system, affecting up to 250 million patients worldwide. The patients suffer from low quality of life because of discomfort and reduced range of motion due to the swelling. Severe swellings can be immediately mediated with special massaging technique known as the Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD). Limitations of MLD involves long travel distances, the cost of regular treatment sessions, and the lack of lymphedema specialists. Since MLD is performed very gently, described as caressing a baby's head, soft wearable robotics with its inherent compliance and safety is the perfect solution to creating a light and safe wearable lymphedema massaging device. In this paper, origami-inspired soft fabric pneumatic actuator is developed that creates not only normal force, but also shear force which is essential in the performance of MLD. The shear is created by the unfolding of the Z-shaped fold-lines as the actuator is inflated. One Z-folded actuator module of 30 x 60 mm dimension with a single fold of 15 mm fold height creates maximum shear force of about 1.5 N and stroke displacement of about 30 mm when subjected to compression loading of 5 N. The range of forces exerted can be tuned by varying the tension of the compressive clothing covering the actuators, and the stroke displacement can be varied by changing the parameter of the actuator module itself, such as the fold height and the number of the folds. The modules can also be repeatedly actuated under compressive clothing, and therefore, the developed actuator modules have high potential as a wearable massaging device.
