IDENTIFYING LOCAL DEFORMATION PHENOMENA DURING WOVEN FABRIC UNIAXIAL TENSILE LOADING

Experimental methods are presented for observing local fabric deformat ion during uniaxial tensile loading of a woven fabric. These experimen ts include the traditional ravel strip test as well as the use of vide o taping, encapsulation, and photographing fabrics varying in weave te xture, yarn type (ring and rotor spun), and yarn size. Through these t echniques, changes in yarn curvature and cross-sectional area (shape) are monitored along with the global stress-strain response of the fabr ic. Fabric response depends on both fabric structure and constituent y arn properties. By choosing fabrics in which single parameters, such a s picks per inch, vary systematically, trends in fabric behavior can b e tracked.