The use of acoustic emission in predicting the tensile strength of leather

This investigation is to establish a foundation for developing a nondestruc tive tester with an acoustic analyzer for predicting the tensile strength o f leather. Observations showed an excellent correlation between the tensile strength of leather and the corresponding acoustic cumulative energy at br eak, read from an acoustic emission analyzer. Moreover, a linear relationsh ip was observed between the acoustic cumulative energy at break and the ini tial acoustic cumulative energy when leather was stretched to 10 percent of it original length. More importantly, a correlation was observed between t he initial acoustic cumulative energy and the tensile strength of leather. The implication of these phenomena is that the tensile strength of leather may be predicted without breaking the leather, by measuring the initial aco ustic cumulative energy. The result of this study thus provides an essentia l base facilitating the possible design of a portable leather stretcher att ached with an acoustic sensor. This would allow the prediction of tensile s trength by measuring the cumulative acoustic energy during initial stretchi ng without breaking or damaging the leather.