A 3D mathematical model is developed to describe coupled heat and mass transfer in woven fibrous materials with consideration of its geometrical characters. The liquid water diffusion tensor is derived by matrix transformation. The finite volume method is used to discrete the governing equations, and the obtained linear discrete equations are solved by iteratively utilizing the TDMA (Tr-Diagonal Matrix Algorithm). A high order and absolutely stable difference scheme for water vapor diffusing in fiber is developed. The processes of liquid water transfer in the yarns, water vapor in both inter-yarn and intra-yarn, and their interaction with heat transfer are illustrated by a series of 3D or 4D diagrams. The effects of porosity of the yarn epsilon and the fabric count on heat and mass transfer are also discussed. The predictions of temperature changes on the fabric surface are compared with experimental measurements, good agreement is observed between the two. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.