Crack-Tear-Strength Property of Coated Plain-Weave Fabrics

Abstract

The crack-tear-strength properties of coated plain-weave fabrics, specimen A (PTFE-coated glass fiber fabric) and specimen C (PVC-coated polyester fiber fabric), were investigated by uni/bi-axial tensile testing using the specimens which had the breadth of 20-40cm and the initial crack length of 2a=0.5-5.0cm at the center. The crack-tear-strength, T_p, to 2a=1cm, where T_p was defined as the maximum tensile stress measured during the crack propagation, decreased abruptly to less than 50% of the uniaxial tensile breaking stress. T_p in the warp of specimen A with 2a=0.5-5.0cm on the biaxial stress condition was lower than that on the uniaxial stress condition, but it was opposite for specimen C. The coating materials did not affect the value of T_p. Further more, it was discussed that either the authors' or Racah's equation could be used as the mathematical expression of 2a-T_p curve measured.