Using the stress-strain relationship of wool cells, a three-component model (cuticle, ortho-, and para-/mesocortex) was developed to model the bending properties and behaviour of the wool. The bending rigidity varied with not only the elastic moduli and geometry, but also the direction of the applied moment, whereas bending stiffness is insensitive to the direction of the load. The simulations indicated that the cuticle might contribute 25% of the bending stiffness in extreme cases and should not be ignored, as has been the case in previous studies.
Single fibre curvature (SFC), as a particular bending behaviour associated with the removal of moisture, was illustrated using finite element analysis. The physical properties of the three components (cuticle, ortho-, and para-/mesocortex) of Romney wool fibres are estimated using the stress-strain relationship models. The geometric configuration of the samples is built from true fibre images. The simulations are validated to be qualitatively consistent with the observations of SFC. The displacement, stress and strain energy of the wool fibre due to moisture desorption are mapped using coloured figures.
