Simulated structure of wet fiber networks

Tensile strength is used widely to characterize mechanical properties of paper. Recent numerical studies have revealed that wet tensile strength depends strongly on the number of inter-fiber contacts. In this work, analytical models and computer simulations were utilized to examine the number of these contacts for pressed and stretched fiber networks. When the majority of fibers lie along the xy-plane, the analytical and numerical predictions for the number of contacts are in good agreement both for pressed and stretched networks. However, computer simulations are more relevant for flocculated and stretched sheets, where the simplifications of analytical models are not valid any longer.