modeling "Laying down sheets of textile onto a surface"

[el.Topo]

I don't know if the title is easily understood...

so let me explain it...

I have some geotextile sheets of specific dimensions (that's 45mx5m) 

and a surface (not a regular one) with grades ranging from 3.5% up to 34%

I would like to "fit" those sheets on the surface (which should overlap one another by .30m (see attached image))

but not project them, (that's why I don't believe "drape" is the proper word)

meaning that since the 45m dimension is facing up/down slope, the length should be less in projection (see attached image)

and that should be calculated automatically since the surface is a very irregular on (not like the attached dwg which is included as an example)

After a quick search I couldn't find any relevant threads,

though I think ot should be a common issue among people dealing with gradings that need any kind of covering...

attached you will find some relevant files

Any suggestions?

Hi everybody and thanks in advance

[troma]

If you draw a featureline along the length of your fabric, you can put it on the surface with the FeatureElevsFromSurf command. Then you can select it and look at its properties in the Properties palette. You can see the 2D length and 3D length; this 3D length should be what you need.

[el.Topo]

hi troma and thanks for your interest

your suggestion is understood

but, if I do things the way you suggest

the line I draw would be 45m but the line I'll get will be 47.5 (let's say for example)

so, in this case, because of the irregularity of the surface,

I will have to modify the length of the feature line every time and for each line drawn.

my project deals with 500 sheets of fabric capping an area

so... I was looking for an automated way...

[troma]

Do you need to actually draw them, or just calculate how many? I presumed you were calculating the quantity required. If so, I would draw a line the whole length of the project, find the 3D length and divide by 45m. Similarly in the opposite direction, and divide by 5m. Repeat as needed to get a good average number of clothes needed for the length and width, and multiply to calculate the total.

Now, if you actually need to draw them in plan, that's another story.

[el.Topo]

well, I am looking for a drawing solution

regarding the calculations part, there is the overlapping of the sheets that should be taken into account too,

but that's something I have calculated already considering the overlapping area as a ratio of the sheet standard area

thank you anyway