A New Computerized Data Acquisition and Analysis System for KES-FB Instruments

Abstract

The Kawabata evaluation system for fabrics (KES-FB) has been commonly used to measure fabric mechanical behaviors related to hand. However, the data acquisition and analysis technique for this system is obsolete and time-consuming. The purpose of this study is to develop a new data acquisition and analysis system for the KES-FB instruments using LabVIEWTM software and corresponding hardware (National Instruments). Windows-interface programs for each KES test method are created with the LabVIEW system. In order to validate this data acquisition system, twenty apparel fabrics are tested using both the original KES-FB data recording method and the new computerized data processing method. Linear regression and variance analysis are used to compare tested results and evaluate repeatability and variability within the two data acquisition methods. The R2 values of most linear regression models are close to 1.00, indicating that the KES data system has been successfully updated.