A new apparatus and method for tensile testing at high strain rates

A high speed dynamometer is developed to measure the mechanical properties of linear textiles at strain rates similar to those encountered in manufact uring processes. Experiments based on 57 tex poly(ethylene terephtalate) ya rns permit us to investigate the influence of some important parameters suc h as inertia effects, transverse vibrations, clamping type, and sample gaug e length on mechanical behavior. The clamping system and gauge length have a pronounced influence on the yam's properties, while the effects of inerti a force and transverse vibrations are negligible.