BUCKLING OF WOVEN FABRICS .1. EFFECT OF FABRIC WEIGHT

The effect of weight on the buckling behavior of woven fabrics is investigated in this study. Using Timoshenko’s elastica theory, the differential equation of the fabric is established, and numerical solutions under three different boundary conditions are obtained. This model explains the buckling behavior of the fabric as efficiently as the model using friction couple theory. In addition, the relationship between the weight factor (the ratio of fabric weight per unit length to bending rigidity times buckling length cubed) of the fabric and the load-deflection characteristics are discussed in detail. As the weight factor increases, the force to initiate buckling increases. For a fabric undergoing a large deflection, the effect of the weight factor w on buckling is strongly dependent on the boundary conditions of the fabric elastica. In many apparel fabrics, the weight factor is significant and cannot be neglected in the model formu lation. © 1990, Sage Publications. All rights reserved.