Abstract
In the use of coated fabrics as tensile members, the fracture toughness is of great importance in structural design. In this experiment the author tested four types of coated fabric for experimental fracture toughness. The calculated expression for the fracture toughness value was given as the rate of energy release, and was transformed using Hedgepeth's analytical theory into a suitable form to be applied to coated fabrics. Further, study was conducted of the treatment of material constants using the finite element method and the result was applied to the improvement of a practical design expression. This equation thus gives the fracture toughness value of coated fabric. This value can be taken as the “force” required to separate the yarn at the crack tips as the crack propagates. Although the coated fabrics used in the experiment all had approximately the same breaking strength, there were some that showed “force” (fracture toughness value) twice that of other fabrics.
