A design of wetsuit based on 3D body scanning and virtual technologies

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a method of digital twins of female bodies and the optimization of wetsuit patterns with the help of virtual technologies.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the new anthropometrical grouping of female torsos has been developed with 3D body scanning technology. Second, soft tissue deformation under the influence of typical diving postures and hydraulic pressure has been explored. Through real experiments, the relationship between textile material strain and body measurement changing has been applied to establish deformed digital twins of female bodies. Finally, during the evaluation of the virtual wetsuit test on digital twins through material strain and pressure values in CLO 3D, the optimized pattern of the wetsuit has been designed.

Findings

The experimental results show that the digital twins based on real data transformation are feasible and practical, and the process of establishing digital twins with 3D body scanning technology is valid and accurate.

Originality/value

The researches on the wetsuit of structure and body dynamic measurements still have many gaps existing in the real and virtual experiments. Thus the manuscript addresses these issues and provides the deformed digital twin for wetsuit pattern design for the first time. This study can be used for designing and optimizing the wetsuit and further improving the efficiency of manufacture and evaluation.

Citation

Wu, X. and Kuzmichev, V. (2021), "A design of wetsuit based on 3D body scanning and virtual technologies", International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology, Vol. 33 No. 4, pp. 477-494. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCST-02-2020-0021