9—FABRIC STIFFNESS, HANDLE, AND FLEXION

Abstract

The stiffness of some woven and non-woven fabrics is assessed subjectively and measured objectively. Magnitude estimations of stiffness by hand are found to correlate with values of flexural rigidity obtained by bending-hysteresis measurements on a Shirley Cyclic Tester. Comparisons are made of fabric properties, such as mass, thickness, density, and volume. Objective measurements of fabric stiffness by Shirley Cantilever, Cusick Drapemeter, and Shirley Cyclic Tester methods are also compared.