Define the structure options Create in Current Domain, Keep Current Objects / Structure and Sheet Thickness.

Create in Current Domain and Keep Current Objects / Structure

When checking Create in Current Domain the structure currently in memory, is considered during the generation of the paper structure. Additionally, when Keep Current Objects / Structure is checked, the structure in memory is kept and combined with the newly generated paper structure.

This feature is used in combination with checking Prohibit Fiber Overlap or Prohibit Overlap with Current Structure in the Generation and Overlap Mode panel. In this way, you can make the paper fibers cover and mold a structure in memory (for example a weave) and decide if the structure should be kept or not.

Once Create in Current Domain is checked, the parameters grouped under the Domain panel cannot be modified, including the voxel length, because they are taken from the structure already in memory.

Prohibit Overlap with Current Structure can be checked to avoid the paper fibers entering the weave, but the fibers can overlap each other. The regions of fiber overlap are assigned to the next Material ID (here shown in orange).

The more restrictive Prohibit Fiber Overlap or Remove Overlap should be checked if the fibers should not overlap each other nor the weave.

Sheet Thickness

The Sheet Thickness value defines the thickness of the paper sheet, i.e., the height of the area (Z-direction) in which the fibers are placed. If the value is set higher than the height of the domain, it is discarded, and the fibers are placed inside the domain.

In the following examples, the sheet thickness is increased from 50 µm to 100 µm and then to 200 µm. The size of the domain remains the same (height in Z-direction: 200 µm) but the paper structure appears more voluminous.