Cut resistance evaluation of three-dimensional geometry-dependent coated structures by clustering validation analysis

Abstract This study evaluates the impact of three-dimensional coating structures on the cut resistance of aramid knitted fabrics. Nine different coating geometries (elliptical, diamond, and stripes) were created using template matrices and tested for cut resistance according to EN ISO 13997. required to cut the fabric. The results showed that the geometric shape significantly influenced cut resistance, ranging from 7.8 N for elliptical patterns to 23.8 N for diamond patterns, which provided the highest level of protection. To support the experimental findings, an unsupervised machine learning approach was employed to provide an objective, data-driven validation of the differences in the coated layers. The application of a modified NbClust decision fusion approach explicitly linked the geometric parameters with the resulting cut resistance, confirming that the surface geometry fundamentally dictates the observed performance clusters. This quantitative analysis provided an objective validation of the grouping of coating structures, confirming that surface geometry is a key determinant influencing the cut resistance of protective textiles.