The constrained finite element method for modeling cloth deformation

Abstract

This paper presents a new method for modeling cloth deformation. The proposed approach is a constrained finite element method. We successfully introduce a geometric constraint into the geometrical, nonlinear, finite element equations. The assumed constraint is that lengths of all threads in a cloth object remain unchanged after deformation. Using the proposed method, we obtain an approximate solution satisfying the mechanical properties and the geometric constraint of cloth deformation. Further, the long computing time and solution distortion problems involved in the large rotation of cloth deformation can be solved. We also present several examples to verify the mode.