Effect of Shear-Tension Coupling on the Deformation Characteristics of Woven Fabrics

Abstract

In this study, the deformation characteristics of plain-woven fabrics under shear and tensile stresses are studied numerically using a biaxial bias-extension test with a square fabric specimen and a cruciform fabric specimen. The fabric orientation is ±45o with respect to the loading directions. For both specimens, the tensile force FT in the vertical direction of the specimen is increased at a constant rate while maintaining a constant tensile force FC in the transverse direction. Both the shear angle in the central zone of pure shear and the shear stiffness of the fabric depends on the transverse tensile force. Numerical simulations are performed with different transverse forces and the shear strain in the central zone of the specimen is determined. The deformation patterns of the fabric under biaxial tensile loading are mapped. Various ratios of load application area to specimen size and different fabric sizes are considered with the goal of designing the test conditions that produce consistent deformation patterns.