New method to measure yarn crimp in woven fabric

A new method to measure the warp or weft yarn crimp in fabric is proposed. The method is based on the analysis of yarn tensile characteristics. In the proposed method, yarns with predetermined distance are removed from fabric and clamped between the jaws of a tensile-strength machine (Instron) without any pretension in the yarn and, accordingly, yarn crimp is measured. The results were also compared with the other two existing methods. The results of yarn crimp in the warp and weft direction of the fabric are found to be sensitive to selection of the applied force range. Peirce’s model of plain weave was used to predict the fabric thickness from the estimated values of yarn crimp. It is also observed that predicted and measured fabric thickness have statistically significant correlations.