Identifying Local Deformation Phenomena During Woven Fabric Uniaxial Tensile Loading

Experimental methods are presented for observing local fabric deformation during uniaxial tensile loading of a woven fabric. These experiments include the traditional ravel strip test as well as the use of video taping, encapsulation, and photographing fabrics varying in weave texture, yarn type (ring and rotor spun), and yarn size. Through these techniques, changes in yarn curvature and cross-sectional area ( shape ) are monitored along with the global stress-strain response of the fabric. Fabric response depends on both fabric structure and constituent yarn properties. By choosing fabrics in which single parameters, such as picks per inch, vary systematically, trends in fabric behavior can be tracked.