FLUID STRUCTURE INTERACTIONS RESEARCH GROUP

Characterisation of Textile and Woven Structures Using Digital Image Correlation

Helen Williams hrw202@soton.ac.uk - School of Engineering Sciences Supervisors Prof. J.M. Barton and Dr. A.R. Chambers
Background A matter of increasing concern to textile conservators is that of textile degradation due to self loading. This research is focused on woven textiles, and in particular tapestries. Tapestries are very valuable and are of enormous cultural significance. They are woven artefacts that are comprised of yarns in two directions, the warp and the weft. They contain large quantities of fibres, and are thus very heavy. Tapestries are hung in the weft direction (where the threads are less tightly spun and therefore weaker) with their full weight being supported by the top edge. This weight acts as an applied load, inducing strain, which over time leads to degradation of the weave structure. Since the purpose of a tapestry is to depict and communicate an image, once degradation mechanisms are initiated, the life span of the object is significantly impacted and the visual meaning is at risk of becoming lost. Methodology The Effect of Loading on Features Although data can be gathered from historic tapestries, this will allow only the analysis of damage that is occurring now, and can merely give an indication of how any existing damage may have occurred and developed. In order to get a true insight into the way in which a tapestry fails, we need to be able to gather data throughout the life-cycle of a tapestry, from it first being hung through to failure due to loading. By applying an evenly distributed load across fully representative tapestry specimens using a specially designed test rig, the self loading that a tapestry experiences can be simulated. The induction of creep in this manner allows the monitoring of its effects throughout the lifetime of an object, and will allow development and refinement of the in-situ monitoring technique that is to be used. Digital Image Correlation is utilised to monitor the full field strain changes in the specimen over an extended period of time and to observe and quantify the effects of load upon common tapestry features and the influence of these discontinuities on the rest of the woven structure.

Research Objectives The overall aim of this PhD project is to apply non-contact strain measurement techniques to textiles, and particularly tapestries in order to gather information relating to the behaviour and properties of the constituent materials at the smallest scale, and relating this to the behaviour of the whole woven object being considered.

Figure 3: Tapestry Test Rig

Figure 1: Fibres, Yarns and Textiles In order to do this the following objectives must be achieved: To validate the use of the DIC technique when applied to woven materials, To evaluate the mechanical behaviour of individual fibres at yarns under load, To relate the behaviour of fires and yarns to the tapestry behaviour as a whole, To determine the behaviour and influence of common features on the behaviour of a tapestries structure, and In addition, an objective is to improve public understanding of the need for scientific research in the cultural heritage sector.

Initial Analysis of the DIC results has shown that loading has an effect of the weave structure from the instant that it is hung. The current testing regime is based upon progressive loading of the panel, which has two slits woven into the structure, then progressive unloading after a set period of time. Figure 4 clearly shows that the behaviour of the panel during initial loading varies to that seen in later loading cycles.
Progressive Loading Strain
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Figure 4: Comparison of Loading Cycles

Figure 5: Strain around Features

Figure 5 also shows that the strain around features varies with the position of the feature within the weave structure. The slit woven towards the top of the panel sees lower strain that a slit lower down the test specimen, as expected due to the variation in displacement across the panel. The DIC system has also shown that it can detect features and discontinuities within the weave structure when images are taken of a large area (in this case the entire test panel). It has also been shown that Relative Humidity has a significant effect upon the strain observed. As the RH increases, so does the strain when considering the panel as a whole. Interestingly, when Figure 6: DIC on Whole Panel looking at a slit woven into the panel, the strains observed directly above and below the feature are seen to react conversely to each other. As the strain above the slit increases, the strain below decreases, with a greater strain being observed below the slit.

Figure 2: Project Structure

Conclusions and Ongoing Work DIC can be seen to offer an effective solution to the detection of discontinuities within woven textile structures. Work is continuing to ensure the reliability and repeatability of results. The current research is moving towards relating the patterns seen in the results presented to the deformation mechanisms at the micro scale (within the yarns and the fibres. The DIC is to be used in tandem with a stereomicroscope to complement the current work.

Figure 7: Strain Around Slit Feature