On the anisotropic tensile behaviors of flexible polyvinyl chloride-coated fabrics

The aim of this study was to provide a practical approach towards discover ing the anisotropic behaviors of polyvinyl chloride (PVC)-coated fabrics under low tensile stresses, as well as those at the tensile failure stage. Test specimens were PVC coated polyester woven fabrics One group of bias tensile experiments with off axial angles of 0 degrees, 15 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees, 75 degrees and 90 degrees, was conducted under low tensile stresses. The anisotropic behaviors on elastic constants of coated fabrics were analyzed with the application of off- axial constitutive response of orthotropic and elastic materials. The experiment data agreed well with the prediction of the off axial constitutive response. It was proved that coated fabrics can be regarded as orthotropic and elastic materials within 20% of the ultimate tensile stress. To analyze the anisotropic behaviors at the tensile failure stage, another group of bias tensile experiments with the same off axial angles was carried out. Three types of failure mechanisms, pure tensile failure, pine shear failure and a mixed failure of tensile and shear, were observed by analyzing the fracture configuration of the specimens under each bias tensile loading. For the prediction of the anisotropic failure strength of coated fabrics, Tsai Hill strength criterion was used and the results analyzed.