Institutional-Repository, University of Moratuwa
Welcome to the University of Moratuwa Digital Repository, which houses postgraduate theses and dissertations, research articles presented at conferences by faculties and departments, university-published journal articles and research publications authored by academic staff. This online repository stores, preserves and distributes the University's scholarly work. This service allows University members to share their research with a larger audience.
 Research Publications |  Thesis & Dissertation |  E- Books |
 UoM Journal Publications |  UoM Conference Proceedings |  Articles published in Scimago's Q1 journals |  UoM Research Reports |  Other Articles authored by UoM staff |
Recent Submissions
item: Conference-Full-text
Biomimetic shark skin textile design for enhanced hydrodynamic drag reduction
(Department of Textile and Apparel Engineering, University of Moratuwa, 2025) Gunawardhane, NS; Gunawardhana, VCP; Thevathasan, V; Nissanka, ID; Nandasiri, GK
Hydrodynamic drag force is the resistance that fluid exerts against an object moving in the opposite direction. It comprises form drag, wave drag, and friction drag [1], with form drag accounting for 70–90% of the total drag and up to 90% of the energy expenditure in competitive swimming. Shark skin has a microstructure known as dermal denticles, which offers a promising solution, as their riblet-like patterns generate streamwise vortices, delay flow separation, and reduce drag by up to 10% [2]. Despite advances in sharkskin biomimicry, its applications in textiles remain limited. In particular, there is a lack of systematic investigations into denticle design and the optimization of their parameters through numerical simulation. This specific research domain has not yet been adequately explored, even though it holds strong potential to enhance drag reduction in textile applications. In this study, the applicable criteria derived from such investigations will be identified and used to fabricate prototypes, which will then be validated for performance.
item: Conference-Full-text
Integration of hygroscopic salts into natural fibers for enhanced dew condensation
(Department of Textile and Apparel Engineering, University of Moratuwa, 2025) Gunasekara USW; Liyanage HVC; Madagoda MRHS; Sethusan S
Water scarcity affects ~4 billion people globally, with Sri Lanka’s dry zone particularly impacted due to prolonged dry seasons, groundwater depletion, and saltwater intrusion. Traditional solutions such as dams, desalination, and groundwater extraction are often costly, energy-intensive, and unsuitable for decentralized communities. Atmospheric water harvesting (AWH), especially dew harvesting, offers a low-energy, scalable alternative that produces high-purity water by exploiting night-time radiative cooling. [1]
Two main AWH types exist: passive systems, which rely on natural cooling, and active systems, which use external energy for higher yields [2]. Hybrid systems combining radiative cooling and solar regeneration are emerging for enhanced efficiency.
This project develops a sustainable, locally adapted dew harvesting system by integrating hygroscopic calcium chloride (CaCl₂) into water hyacinth fibers—an abundant, invasive plant in Sri Lanka. The combination leverages CaCl₂’s strong moisture absorption and the fibers’ high porosity, hydrophilicity, and radiative cooling capability. The system addresses gaps in existing research, aiming to boost yields in humid tropical climates while creating value from invasive biomass. It offers a cost-effective, deployable solution for rural and urban water-stressed communities using locally available materials and renewable energy.
The primary aim of this project is to develop an efficient and sustainable atmospheric dew harvesting system using radiative cooling textile material.
item: Conference-Full-text
Development a shock-absorbent attachment for skydiving shoe
(Department of Textile and Apparel Engineering, University of Moratuwa, 2025) Sewmini, S; Silva, P; Dasunika, S; Liyanage, PL; Karunarathne, C; Niles, SN; Jayawardhana, TSS; Fernando, EASK
Skydiving involves high landing impact forces that place skydivers at considerable risk of lower limb injuries, which account for nearly 51% of all reported cases, with 83–90% occurring during the landing phase [1]. High-speed ground contact can exceed biomechanical tolerance limits (6.75 kN for the ankle, 10 kN for the femur, and 9.5 kN for the pelvis), leading to fractures [2]. Current practice of using standard running shoes is inadequate, as amateur skydivers experience average ground reaction forces of ~4,380 N, which approach the ankle’s tolerance level, while conventional footwear absorbs only about 12.7% (~689.92 N) of this load[3]. To address this issue, the present study proposes a shoe sole attachment design to absorb and dissipate landing impact forces through compression during ground contact. The mechanism draws inspiration from automotive airbags, which reduce the forces transmitted to the human body during an accident by carefully releasing air through vent holes. Similarly, in this design, the sole attachment uses the air permeability of airbag fabric, enabling controlled air release upon compression to mitigate landing forces.
item: Conference-Full-text
Enhanced fragrance release on cotton fabric using β-Cyclodextrin supported by molecular docking
(Department of Textile and Apparel Engineering, University of Moratuwa, 2025) Deneththi, MK; Jayaweera, IT; Liyanage, DP; Gunasekera, USW; Nandasiri, GK; Senapathi, T
Fragrance finishing in textiles has gained importance due to its sensory and therapeutic benefits. However, the volatility of essential oils and poor wash fastness limit the longevity of treated fabrics. β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) (Fig. 2) can form host guest inclusion complexes with essential oils (Fig. 1), enabling controlled release and enhanced retention [2]. Despite this, weak fixation to cotton fabrics reduces long term performance. Crosslinking agents and binders have been used to improve adhesion, but systematic studies combining these with molecular docking studies remain scarce [4]. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of citric acid as a crosslinker and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a binder in retaining sandalwood oil β-CD inclusion complexes on cotton fabric, supported by molecular docking analysis to predict binding stability.
item: Conference-Full-text
Investigation on nano-structural color for fabric printing applications
(Department of Textile and Apparel Engineering, University of Moratuwa, 2025) Chandrasekara, ST; Jayamindi, D; Maddumage, DK; Lakshani, IM; Senarathna, C; Nandasiri, GK
In nature, colors are created either by pigments or by structural coloration, where light interacts with micro- or nanostructures to produce vivid hues seen in butterfly wings and peacock feathers [1],[2]. Structural colors can be iridescent, changing with viewing angle, or non-iridescent, remaining consistent regardless of angle [3],[4]. Due to their durability and brilliance, structural colors offer a sustainable alternative to traditional textile dyes, which consume large amounts of water, energy, and chemicals [5],[6]. However, applying structural coloration to textiles is challenging because fabric surfaces are flexible and porous, causing poor nanoparticle adhesion, uneven coatings, and reduced color intensity [7],[8]. Additionally, the effects of fabric characteristics like weave tightness and surface texture on structural color formation remain underexplored.
This research addresses these limitations by developing a method for producing angle-dependent structural coloration on polyester satin fabric using silica (SiO₂) nanoparticles synthesized via a modified Stöber method. The approach facilitates the self-assembly of nanoparticles into photonic crystal-like structures that generate pigment-free colors. By precisely controlling synthesis parameters, silica nanoparticle sizes are tuned to produce a spectrum of non-iridescent structural colors. The resulting coated fabrics are analyzed for their morphological and optical properties to better understand the mechanisms of color formation.