Experimental characterization and numerical modeling of creep in woven textiles

Abstract

In this study, Digital Image Correlation (DIC) is used to characterize creep in textiles. The creep of a plain-woven cotton fabric was studied over a relatively long period of time (32 days), which is not feasible with traditional apparatus. The results were compared with two models based on a Maxwell element in parallel with an elastic element. Good agreement was shown when the viscous law was chosen to follow the Norton-Hoff-like power law. Fitting the experimental results with a numerical scheme for this power law allowed to determine the material’s viscous parameters. In parallel, time-independent parameters were found using static testing apparatus. The obtained results will allow a better comprehension of creep in textiles when subjected to long-term stress, such like ancient textiles in museums, and hence to predict their behavior using modeling tools.