Projects / Programmes
Clothing Science, Comfort and Textile Materials
January 1, 2018
- December 31, 2027
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 2.14.00 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Textile and leather |
|
| 2.09.00 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Electronic components and technologies |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| T470 |
Technological sciences |
Textiles technology |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 2.05 |
Engineering and Technology |
Materials engineering |
| 2.02 |
Engineering and Technology |
Electrical engineering, Electronic engineering, Information engineering |
Clothing Engineering, Flexible Materials, Fabric Mechanics, Elastic Deformations, Characterization of Flexible Structures, Multifunctional Clothing, Protective Clothing, Wearable Electronics, Intelligent Clothing, Ergonomics of the Thermal Environment, Comfort
Data for the last 5 years (citations for the last 10 years) on
June 28, 2024;
A3 for period
2018-2022
| Database |
Linked records |
Citations |
Pure citations |
Average pure citations |
| WoS |
200 |
1,660 |
1,427 |
7.14 |
| Scopus |
316 |
2,698 |
2,322 |
7.35 |
Researchers (10)
Organisations (1)
Abstract
Textile materials are because of their geometric structure complex materials that don’t correspond to ideal characteristic which are normal in structural engineering analysis and mechanics. Present problems can be solved with understanding of the textile structures mechanics, as nonlinear mechanical properties at low loads. The problem becomes more complex in the case of their incorporation into the garment. Textile materials offer unlimited opportunities for developing advanced fashionable, protective and functional garments and remain a major challenge for our future work. Research program will combine fundamental and applied researches for advanced fashionable and functional clothes development, which will have an impact on: health, safety, personal protection, microclimate improving in living and working environments and human comfort. Research activities will focus on three related parts: a) study of mechanical behavior of flexible structures, b) ergonomics of thermal environment and study of complete approach for ensuring wearing comfort, c) development of functional garments for ensuring higher level of human safety. In first part, we will focus on textile structures mechanic, on micro level, with the purpose of obtaining new theoretical findings about their complex behavior at low loads. This will serve us for analysis and engineering characterization of flexible textile structures. For this purpose, we will on the basis of an interdisciplinary approach and on the basis of modern methods of characterization (including the visualization), define innovative geometry of flexible flat structures. Knowledge obtained in a field of innovative and smart geometries will be used for developing flexible 3D printed flat structures which could be, according to the flexibility, structure and texture related with textile structures. Concern, for ensuring complete wearing comfort, will be the main topic of the second part. Researches will be directed into: a) study of the thermal environment ergonomics, b) study of relationship between the body movement and the physiology of garment and c) development of concept for providing comfort when wearing sports, functional or intelligent garments. Third part of researches is directly linked to the results and findings about wearing comfort, focused on the development of high-performance intelligent clothing for providing a higher level of human security. Findings will be used for developing: a) geometrical and mechanical characterization of textile structures, b) flexible 3D printed flat structures,
c) concept of complex behavior of textile structures (the distribution of compression load on body), d) concept of complete approach for providing comfort, e) functional garments. Obtained knowledge will have positive impact, on individuals and society, health protection and well-being. Our findings will contribute into the development of the knowledge society in accordance with the guidelines of Horizon 2020.
Significance for science
The proposed research program is based on knowledge, required for formation of engineering design concept for planning a high functional and intelligent garments or on the so-called knowledge - based garments and other products for technical use. Findings from a field of mechanical behavior of flexible structures and from innovative and intelligent geometries will contribute to the enrichment of the fundamental (textile structures reaction at small loads, correlation between load and deformation, relaxation of tension and drifting, geometric characterization) and applied (the development of personalized models for sportswear garments based on studying of a compression load distribution on the body, the development of 3D printed flexible flat structures that can approach from the perspective of structure and texture to the textile structures) knowledge in a field of garments science. These findings play an important part of world’s science development. Obtained fundamental knowledge and findings will contribute to the development of innovative, high-tech garments with functional effects. This will lead to the establishment of a new methodology for measuring functional effects of high-tech textiles or garment’s physiological, ergonomic and mechanical wearing comfort associated with the personality dimensions of individuals.
Understanding the ergonomics of the thermal environment, as well as, physiological response of the human body in cold and/or hot environment will contribute to the strengthening of both; fundamental and applied knowledge. The acquired findings can be used as important criteria for the evaluation and design of substantial properties of garments and garments systems in different thermal environments.
New findings about thermal physiological response of human body in hot environment (in the case of protective garments with primary function of protection (for example ebola, avian influenza, etc.) and, consequently, with limited basic characteristics) will contribute to the development of functional intelligent garments (development of system with cooling effect, installation of materials for effective absorption of perspiration in the microclimate area) that will react on thermoregulation response of human body in hot environment.
Finding from the field of thermal environment ergonomics and human protection will enable development of functional intelligent garments (integration of available high-tech intelligent materials and contemporary wearable electronics) for providing a higher level of human safety. Obtained knowledge will contribute to the development of complementary scientific fields in which engineering knowledge of medicine, arts, humanities and man protection will be intertwined. All this will significantly contribute to the development of the knowledge society.
The research program content is systematically designed and directly involved in the issues of priority areas of the European Technology Platform ETP (European Technology Platform: Fibers Textiles Clothing), EU Framework Program for Research and Innovation Horizon 2020, the European Strategic Development Plan (SRA - Strategic Research Agenda) and Slovenian textile technology platform.
Significance for the country
From the content point of view, research programme focuses in engineering concept establishment, for projection of conventional and high-performance clothing and/or other textile products, that require definition of thermal, mechanical and and/or functional properties, resp. knowledge-based products. The content of the research programme is important for the branch development, for engineering praxis, as well as for providing higher human safety.
Results of the planned researches will contribute to the enrichment of Slovenian knowledge treasury, especially in the development of innovative, high-performance garments with functional effects and in the development of appropriate methods for functional effects definition of high–performance garments and their impact on physiological, ergonomics and mechanical comfort while wearing. Results and their use will contribute to ensuring higher level of human safety.
With direct integration of clothing science achievements, ergonomics of the thermal environment, the physiological response of the human body in the human-clothing- environment system and contemporary wearable electronics, we will, with the results of basic researches, also contribute in knowledge of other scientific disciplines spreading.
New findings will be directly transferred to industrial practice. Results of researches will be basis for raising awareness in economy, civil society and civil protection, about contemporary materials and functional effects of clothing systems, that can provide higher level of human’s security in working environments. Special attention will be given to researches and development of materials and garment systems for ensuring safety and rescuing, where we will act in accordance with the requirements of the protection against natural and other disasters. The transfer of achieved scientific findings into the praxis will enable engineered projection and design of the clothing system or other textile products as systems, as well as projection of high-performance and/or intelligent clothing.
As developers of new knowledge we have been successfully cooperating with several companies (Prevent & Deloza production and trading, d.o.o, Tekstina Ajdovščina, Uni&Forma d.o.o., Inplet knitting d.o.o., Lisca d.d. Sevnica, Moda MI & LAN d.o.o., ECC d.o.o., Tailoring Rožman d.o.o., etc.) as well as with ministries (MORS, MNZ, FURS, MPRS), public agencies (SPIRIT Slovenia), associations (Slovenian Firefighters Association, the Association of Paraplegics of Slovenia) etc.
With further integration and involvement of industrial partners and members of civil protection in home, bilateral and European projects, together with activities in the field of research and development projects, workshops and joint problem solving, in the context of bachelor and master's theses, we will indirectly influenced on technological development and design of innovative products of added values, which is crucial for sustainable socio-economic development of Slovenian clothing industry.
On the other hand, research achievements will be equally integrated into the treasury of the world's knowledge. They will enable better linkage of Slovenian scientists and through them also producers of high-performance apparel and other high-quality textile products with multifunctional effects with world's scientists and professionals. This could strengthen the presence of Slovenian experts and clothing producers in the global market. Results could be crucial also in a sense of socio-economic meaning, as they will enable the transfer of skills and knowledge into lifelong learning and, consequently, contribute to better quality of life.
We will dedicate extra special intention in creative transfer of our knowledge and findings to younger generations. The example of good practice in this area is the organization of traditional, international Winter School Design Week. Every year, the event connects around 80 foreign and inland students and 10 students
Most important scientific results
Interim report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Interim report
