Relation between Drape Coefficients and Mechanical Properties of Fabrics

In this paper, drape coefficients and mechanical properties of 138 samples of woven fabrics are measured, and the relation between them is analyzed by means of residual-regression method. A linear equation by which the drape coefficient can be calculated from the mechanical properties is presented.As a result, it is shown that the value given by 3√ is most related with the drape coefficient, where B is bending rigidity (g•cm2/cm), W weight per unit area of fabric (mg/cm2).Next, the anisotropy in the bending property of fabric is examined, and we get an equation for the drape coefficient, by means of multiple regression method; Dn; =5.1+115.03√ +131.13√ +1.23√ where B90; is bending rigidity (g•cm2/cm) along warps, B0; along wefts, and B45; in bias directions.Finally, the stability of the drape shape is examined. It is found that as the hysteresis in fabric shearing and bending is large, the instability in the drape coefficient increases. From this fact, the experimental technique of drape testing is also discussed.