Designation: D 1388 – 96 (Reapproved 2002)

Standard Test Method for

Stiffness of Fabrics1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 1388; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of 
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A

superscript
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Sco
Scope
pe 3. Terminology
1.1 This test methmethod
od covers the measurement
measurement of stif stiffnes
fnesss 3.1   Definitions:
properties of fabrics. Bending length is measured and flexural 3.1.1   bending
bending leng th,   n—in text
length iles, a me
textiles meas
asu
ure of the
rigidity is calculated. Two procedures are provided. interaction between fabric weight and fabric stiffness as shown
1.1.1   Option A—Cantilever Test, employing the principle of  by the way in which a fabric bends under its own weight.
cantilever bending of the fabric under its own mass. 3.1.1.1   Discussion—Bending length reflects the stiffness of 
1.1.2   Option B—Heart Loop Test, employing the principle a fabric when bent in one plane under the force of gravity and
of a loop formed in a fabric strip and hung vertically. is one component of drape.
1.2 This
This tes
testt met
method
hod app
applie
liess to mos
mostt fab
fabric
ricss inc
includ
luding
ing 3.1.2   cross-machine direction, CD,   n—the direction in the
woven fabrics, air bag fabrics, blankets, napped fabrics, knitted plane of the fabric perpendicular to the direction of manufac-
fabric
fab rics,
s, lay
layere
eredd fab
fabric
rics,
s, pil
pilee fab
fabric
rics.
s. The fabfabric
ricss may be ture.
untreate
untr eated,
d, heavi
heavily ly sized
sized,, coat
coated,
ed, resi
resin-tr
n-treate
eated,d, or other
otherwise
wise 3.1.2.1   Discussion—The term cross-machine
cross-machine direction
direction is
treated. used to refer to the direction analogous to coursewise or filling
1.3 The values
values stated
stated in SI units
units are to be regregard
arded
ed as the direction in knitted or woven fabrics, respectively.
standard. The U.S. customary units may be approximate. 3.1.3   fabric,   n—in textiles, a planar structure consisting of 
1.4   This sta
standa
ndardrd does not purport
purport to add
addre ress
ss all of the yarns or fibers.
safe
sa fety
ty co
conc
ncer
erns
ns,, if an
anyy, as
asso
sociciat
ated
ed wi
with
th it
itss us
use.
e. It is th
thee 3.1.4  flexural rigidity,  n —a measure of stiffness, where two
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- equal and oppos
oppositeite forces are acti
acting
ng along parallel
parallel lines on
 priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- either end of a strip of unit width bent into unit curvature in the
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. absence of any tension.
3.1.5   machine direction, MD,   n—the direction in the plane
2. Referenced Documents of the fabric parallel to the direction of manufacture.
2.1   ASTM Standards: 3.1.5.1   Discussion—The term machine direction is used to
Textiles2
D 123 Terminology Relating to Textiles refer to the direction analogous to walewise or warp direction
Textiles for Testing2
D 1776 Practice for Conditioning Textiles in knitted or woven fabrics, respectively.
D 2904 Practice for Interlaboratory Testing
Testing of a Textile Test
Test 3.1.6   stiffness,   n—resistance to bending.
Method That Produces Normally Distributed Data 2 3.1.7 For definitions
definitions of other textile terms
terms used in this test
D 2906
2906 Pract
Practice
ice for Stat
Statement
ementss on Precision
Precision and Bias for method, refer to Terminology D 123.
Textiles2
D 3776 Test Methods for Mass Per Unit Area (Weigh
(Weight)
t) of  4. Summ
Summary
ary of Test Method Options
Woven Fabric3 4.1   Option
Option A, Canti lever Test —A speci
Cantilever specime
menn is slslid
id at a
2.2   ASTM Adjuncts: specified rate in a direction parallel to its long dimension, until
TEX-PAC4 its leading edge projects from the edge of a horizontal surface.
The length of the overhang is measured when the tip of the
specimen is depressed under its own mass to the point where
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D13 on Textiles
Textiles
the line joining the top to the edge of the platform makes a
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D13.60 on Fabric Test Methods,
Specific. 0.924 rad (41.5°) angle with the horizontal. From this mea-
Current edition approved April 10, 1996. Published
Published June 1996. Origin
Originally
ally sured
sur ed len
length
gth,, the ben
bendin
ding
g len
length
gth and flex flexura
urall rig
rigidi
idity
ty are
published
publi shed as D 1388 – 56 T.T. Discont
Discontinued
inued 1995 and reinstat
reinstated
ed as D 1388 – 96. calculated.
2
Standardss, Vol 07.01.
 Annual Book of ASTM Standard
3
 Annual Book of ASTM Standard
Standardss, Vol 07.02.
4
PC programs on floppy disks for analyzing Committee D-13 interlaboratory
data are available throughASTM. For 3 1 ⁄ 2  in. disks request PCN: 12-429040-18, for
51 ⁄ 4  in. disk request PCN: 12-429041-18.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

1
 

D 1388 – 96 (2002)
4.2   Option B, Heart Loop Test —A
—A strip of fabric is formed
into a heart-shaped loop. The length of the loop is measured
when it is hanging vertically under its own mass. From this
measured length, the bending length and flexural rigidity are
calculated.

5. Signi
Significanc
ficancee and Use
5.1 Bot
Bothh test
test opt
option
ionss in thi
thiss tes
testt met
method
hod are consider
considered
ed
satisfact
satisfactory
ory for acceptance
acceptance test
testing
ing of comm
commercia
erciall ship
shipment
mentss
since current esti
estimate
matess of betwe
between-l
en-labora
aboratory
tory preci
precision
sion are
acceptable and the method is used extensively in the trade for
acceptance testing.
5.1.1
5.1.1 In cacase
se of a di disp
sput
utee ar
aris
isin
ing
g fr
from
om didifffe
fere
renc
nces
es in
reported test results when using this test method for acceptance
testing of commercial shipments, the purchaser and the sup-
plier should conduct comparative tests to determine if there is
a statistical bias between their laboratories. Competent statis- FIG. 1 Example of a Motorized Cantilever Test Apparatus
tical assistance is recommended for the investigation of bias.
As a minimum, the two parties should take a group of test 6.1.1.3  Scale and Reference Point , to measure the length of 
specimens that are as homogeneous as possible and that are the overhang.
from a lot of material of the type in question. Test specimens 6.1.1.4  Specimen Feed Unit , motorized5 (see Fig. 1) set to
should then be randomly assigned in equal numbers to each 120 mm/min (4.75 in./min)  6 5 %, or manual equivalent.
labora
laborator
tory
y for tes
testi
ting.
ng. The ave
averag
ragee res
result
ultss fro
fromm the two 6.1.2   Cutting Die—25  6  1 mm by 200  6  1 mm (1  6  0.04
laboratories should be compared using the appropriate statis- in. by 8  6  0.04 in.).

tical analysis and an acceptable probability level chosen by the 6.2   Option B—Heart Loop Tester.
6.2.1   Clamp and Stand , for hanging the specimen.
two parties before testing is begun. If a bias is found, either its
cause must be found and corrected or the purchaser and the 6.2.2   Scale, suitably mounted on the stand for measuring the
supplier must agree to interpret future test results with consid- length of the specimen loop and calibrated either in cm (in.) or
eration to the known bias. directly in bending length.
5.2 In general, these procedures
procedures are more suitable for testing
testing NOTE   1—If
1—If a coconst
nstan
antt st
strip
rip le
lengt
ngthh is ad
adop
opte
ted,
d, th
thee sca
scale
le ma
may
y be
woven fabrics than knit fabrics. calibrated to read directly in units of bending length.
5.3 The Cantilever
Cantilever Test Option is the preferred
preferred proc
procedure
edure
6.2.3   Br
Brasasss Ba
Barsrs, t wo , 2 5  3  7 5  3  3   6   0.
0 .1 m m
because it is simpler to perform. It is, however, not suitable for
(1 3  3  3  0.1256   0.005 in.).
very limp fabrics or those that show a marked tendency to curl
6.2.4  Pressure Sensitive Tape.
or twist at a cut edge.
6.2.5   Jig, constructed to allow positioning of the two bars
5.4 The Heart Loop Test Test Option is suitable
suitable for fabr
fabrics
ics that
with their inner edges parallel and at a distance from each other
show a tendency to curl or twist.
equal to the selected strip length.
5.5 Both options can provide a correlation
correlation with a subjective
subjective
evalua
eva luatio
tion
n of a giv
givenen fab
fabric
ric type. That is, a hig
higher
her number
number 7. Samp
Sampling
ling and Test
Test Speci
Specimens
mens
represents a stiffer fabric.
5.6 The stiffnes
stiffnesss of a fabri
fabricc may chang
changee with stora
storage.
ge. 7.1   Lot Sampl
Samplee—As a lot samsample
ple for acc
accept
eptanc
ancee tes
testin
ting,
g,
randomly select the number of rolls or pieces of fabric directed
5.7 No evi
eviden
dence
ce has beebeenn fou
found
nd sho
showin
wingg tha
thatt ben
bendin
ding
g
in an appapplic
licabl
ablee mat
materi
erial
al spe
specifi
cificat
cation
ion or oth
other
er agr
agreem
eement
ent
length is dependent on the width. The tendency for specimens
between the purchaser and the supplier. Consider the rolls or
to curl or twist will affect the result, because of the rigidity
piec
pieces
es of fafabr
bric
ic to be th
thee pr
prim
imar
ary
y sa
samp
mpli
ling
ng un
unit
its.
s. In ththee
provided at the edge. Consequently, the wider the strip, the less
absence of such an agreement, take the number of fabric rolls
important is the edge effect.
specified in Table 1.
6. Appar
Apparatus
atus
6.1  Option A—Cantilever Bending Tester (Fig. 1 and Figs. 2 5
A motorized
motorized bending tester such as describ
described
ed in Section 6.1 and Fig. 1 is being
). developed. Contact Instrument Marketing Services, a subsid
developed. subsidiary
iary of U.S. Testing
Testing
6.1.1   Horizontal Platform, with a minimum area of 38 by Company, Inc., 291 Fairfield Avenue, Farfield, NJ 07004.
200 mm (1.5 by 8 in.) and having a smooth low-friction, flat
surface such as polished metal or plastic. A leveling bubble TABLE 1 Numb
Number
er of Rolls, or Piece
Pieces,
s, of Fabric in the Lot Sample
shall be incorporated in the platform. Number of Rolls or Pieces
  Number
Number of Roll
Rolls
s or Piec
Pieces
es in Lot Samp
Sample
le
6.1.1.1   Indicator , inclined at an angle of 0.724  6  0.01 rad in Lot, Inclusive

(41.5  6  0.5°) below the plane of the platform surface. 1 to 3 all

6.1.1.2   Movable Slid
Slidee, consisting of a metal bar not less 4 t o 24 4
25 to 50 5
than 25 by 200 mm (1 by 8 in.) by approximately 3 mm ( 1 ⁄ 8 in.) over 50 10 % to a max of 10 rolls or pieces
thick and having a mass of 270  6  5 g (0.6  6  0.01 lb).

2
 

D 1388 – 96 (2002)
NOTE   2—An adequate specification
specification or other agreement
agreement between the 7.5.3.1
7.5.3. 1 Sele
Select
ct a spec
specimen
imen width at least 25 mm (1 in.) and
purchaser and supplier requires taking into account the variability between no more than 75 mm (3 in.) with respect to the tendency of the
rolls or pieces of fabric and between specimens from a swatch from a roll
fabric to curl. For fabrics having a slight tendency to curl, a 25
or piece of fabric to provide a sampling plan with a meaningful producer’s
risk, consumer’s
consumer’s risk, accep
acceptable
table quality level, and limiting quality level.
6  1 mm (1  6  0.04 in.) wide specimen has been found to be
satisfactory. As the tendency to curl becomes greater, increase
7.2   Laborator Samplee—Fo
Laboratoryy Sampl —Forr acc
accept
eptanc
ancee tes
testin
ting,
g, tak
takee a the width up to a maximum of 75 mm (3 in.).
swatch extending the width of the fabric and approximately 1 7.5.3.2
7.5.3. 2 Make several
several tria
triall test
testss using various
various strip lengt
lengths
hs
m (1 yd) along the machine direction from each roll or piece in select
selected
ed fro
from
m Tabl
ablee 2. Sel
Select
ect a suisuitab
table
le str
strip
ip len
length
gth for a
the lot sam
sample
ple.. For rolls of fab
fabric
ric,, tak
takee a sam
sample
ple that will corresponding loop length from Table 2, such that the bending
exclude fabric from the outer wrap of the roll or the inner wrap length is relatively independent of strip length.
around the core of the roll of fabric, or any end piece.
7.3   Direction of Test —Consider
—Consider the long dimension of the NOTE   3—Strip length is the circumferential length of the unclamped
portion of the specimen.
specimen as the direction of test.
NOTE   4—Specimen strip widths greater than 75 mm (3 in.) have not
7.4  Number of Test Specimens—From each laboratory sam- been investigated
investigated and are not recom
recommended
mended since reliability
reliability of results are
pling unit, take four specimens from the machine direction and questionable.
four specimens from the cross-machine direction as applicable NOTE   5—The bending
bending length using the heart loop option is not entire
entirely
ly
to a material specification or contract order. independent of the strip length. In general, the bending length rises with
7.5   Cutting Test Specimens—Cut the specimens to be used the strip length up to a value that remains relatively constant as the strip
for the memeasu
asurem
rement
ent of mac
machin
hinee dir
direct
ection
ion wit
with
h the lon
longer
ger length is further increased.
increased. An additional rise may further be encoun
encountered
tered
for much longer strip lengths. Whenever possible, compare fabrics in the
dimension parallel to the machine direction. Cut the specimens
range where bending length is independent of strip length.
to be used for the measurement of the cross-machine direction
with the longer dimension parallel to the cross-machine direc- 8. Preparation of Test
Test Apparatus and Calibration
tion. Label to maintain specimen identity. 8.1  Option A—Cantilever Test :
7.5.1
7.5.1 Take spespecim
cimens
ens,, rep
repres
resent
enting
ing a bro
broad
ad dis
distri
tribut
bution
ion 8.1.1 Set the tester on a table or bench with the horizontal
horizontal
across the width
the laboratory and length,
sample, and no preferably along
nearer the edge theone-tenth
than diagonal its
of  platform and inclined reference lines. Adjust the platform to
horizontal as indicated by the leveling bubble.
width. Ensure specimens are free of folds, creases, or wrinkles. 8.1.2 Verify that the bend angle indicator
indicator is at the 0.724 rad
Avoid getting oil, water, grease, etc. on the specimens when (41.5°) angle marked on the scale.
handling.
7.5.2   Cantilever Test —Cut
—Cut test specimens 25 by 200 mm, 9. Cond
Condition
itioning
ing
61 mm (1 by 8 in.  6  0.04 in.). 9.1 Pre
Precon
condit
dition
ion the spe
specim
cimens
ens by bribringi
nging
ng the
them
m to ap-
7.5.3   Heart Loop Test —No
—No standard size for the test speci- proximate moisture equilibrium in the standard atmosphere for
men is required. Cut test specimens 50 mm (2 in.) longer than preconditioning textiles as directed in Practice D 1776, unless
the selected strip length to allow for clamping at the ends. See otherwise directed in a material specification or contract order.
Table 2. 9.2 After preconditioning,
preconditioning, bring the test specimens
specimens to mois-
ture equilibrium
equilibrium for test
testing
ing in the standard atmosphere
atmosphere for
testing textiles as directed in Practice D 1776 or, if applicable,
TABLE
TABLE 2 Table of Bending Lengths
in th
thee sp
spec
ecifi
ified
ed at
atmo
mosp
sphe
here
re in wh
whic
ich
h th
thee te
test
stin
ing
g is to be
Bending Length, cm
Loop Length, performed, unless otherwise directed in a material specification
cm 15-cm Strip 20-cm Strip 25-cm Strip
Length Length Length or contract order.
4.0 2.19 ... ... 10. Proc
Procedur
eduree
4.2 2.07 ... ...
4.4 1.99 ... ... 10.1 Test the condi
condition
tioned
ed specimens
specimens in the stan
standard
dard atmo-
4.6 1.86 3.44 5.43 sphere for testing textiles, which is 21  6  1°C (70  6  2°F) and
4.8 1.76 3.30 5.16
5.0 1.65 3.17 4.91
65   6   2 % relative
relative humi
humidity
dity,, unle
unless
ss other
otherwise
wise directed in a
5.2 1.56 3.03 4.71 material specification or contract order.
5.4 1.45 2.90 4.53 10.2  Option A—Cantilever Test :
5.6 1.35 2.80 4.36
5.8 1.25 2.67 4.20 10.2.1 Remov
Removee the movab
movable le slide. Place the spec
specimen
imen on
6.0 1.14 2.57 4.06 the horizontal platform with the length of the specimen parallel
6.2 1.04 2.47 3.92 to the platform edge. Align the edge of the specimen with the
6.4 0.93 2.37 3.80
6.6 0.81 2.26 3.67 line scribed on the right-hand edge of the horizontal platform.
6.8 0.69 2.16 3.56
7.0 0.53 2.06 3.45
NOTE  6—When known, place the specimen face-side up.
7.2 ... 1.96 3.34 10.2.2
10.2.2 Place
Place the mov
movablablee sli
slide
de on the spe
specim
cimen,
en, bei
being
ng
7.4 ... 1.86 3.21
7.6 ... 1.76 3.12 careful not to change its initial position.
7.8 ... 1.66 3.02 10.2.3 For automatic
automatic testers,
testers, turn the tester switch on and
8.0 ... ... 2.91 watch the lea
watch leadin
ding
g edg
edgee of the spe
specim
cimen
en clo
closel
sely
y. Tu
Turn
rn the
8.2 ... ... 2.82
8.4 ... ... 2.72 switch
switch off the insta
instant
nt the edge of the specimen
specimen touch
touches
es the
knife edge.

3
 

D 1388 – 96 (2002)
10.2.4 For manual testers,
testers, move the clamped specimen
specimen by 11. Calculation
hand in a smooth manner at approximately 120 mm/min (4.75 11.1   O pt
pti on
on A , L en
en gt
gt h o f O ve
ve rh
rh an
an g,
g, I nd
nd iv
iv id
id ua
ua l
in./min)6  5 % until the edge of the specimen touches the knife Specimens—Fo
—Forr eac
each
h spe
specim
cimen,
en, ave
averag
ragee the fou
fourr rea
readin
dings
gs
edge. obtained to the nearest 0.1 cm as the Length of Overhang (or
10.2.5 Read and record the overhang
overhang length
length from the linear one-half Loop Length), unless otherwise agreed upon between
scale to the nearest 0.1 cm (0.1 in.). the purchaser and supplier.
NOTE   7—If the specimen has a tendency to twist, take the reference NOTE  8—In some cases it may be of interest to differentiate between the
point at the center of the leading edge. Do not measure specimens that sides of the fabric by averaging those readings made with the fabric face
twist more than 0.785 rad (45°).
side up (out) separately from those with the fabric face side down (in).
10.2.6 TeTest
st the face and back of both endsends of each specimen 11.2   Option
Option B, Loop Lengt
Length,h, Indiv
Individual Specimens—For
idual Specimens
for a total of four readings per specimen. each spe
each specim
cimen,
en, ave
averag
ragee the two reareadin
dings
gs obt
obtain
ained
ed to the
10.3   Option B—Heart Loop Test : nearest 0.1 cm as the Loop Length, unless otherwise agreed
10.3
10 .3.1
.1 Place
Place ththee tw
twoo ba
bars
rs pa
para
rall
llel
el to ononee ananot
othe
herr on a upon between the purchaser and supplier.
horizontal surface such that the inner edges are separated by a 11.3   Mass per Unit Area—Use the mass per unit area as
distance equal to the selected strip length (see 6.2.5). determined by Test Method D 3776 in cm 2.
10.3.2 Lay the test specimen
specimen across the two bars with the 11.4   Bending Length, Individual Specimens—Calculate the
outer edge approximately 5  6  1 mm (0.5  6  0.005 in.) from one bending length as directed in 11.4.1 or 11.4.2, as applicable.
end of each bar. 11.4.1   Option
Option A, Canti leverr Test —Calculate
Cantileve —Calculate the bendi
bending
ng
10.3.3 Attach one end of the the specimen strip
strip to one bar using length for each testing direction to the nearest 0.1 cm, using Eq
pressure-sensitive tape, being careful to align to one edge of  1.
the bar. Apply just enough tension to the specimen to hold it
c 5  o /2 (1)
taut, but without stretching, and attach the other specimen and
to the second bar in a similar manner. where:
10.3.3.1
10.3.3 .1 A suitable
suitable proc
procedure
edure for mounting and meas measuring
uring c   = bendi
bending
ng length
length,, cm,
cm, and
and
the specimen is the use of two brass bars to which the specimen o   = leng
length
th of
of overha
overhang,
ng, cm.
strip is fastened. The bars and the attached specimen strip are 11.4.2   Option
Option B, Hea
Heartrt Loo
Loopp Test —Conv
—Convert
ert the read
readings
ings
clamped to the stand in a suitable vertical position in front of  from loop length to bending length using Table 2, or calculate
a sca
scale
le cal
calibr
ibrate
atedd eit
either
her in cm (in(in.)
.) or dir
direct
ectly
ly in ben
bendin
ding
g the bending length for each testing direction to the nearest 0.1
length. cm, using Eq 2.
10.3.4 Tur
Turnn the bars and mounted
mounted specimen over, over, such that c 5  I o f ~b!   (2)
the fabric is on the under side of each bar. Grasp one bar in
each hand, lift and rotate each bar 4.71 rad (270°). Rotate the where:
left-hand bar in a clockwise direction and the right-hand bar in c   = bending leng
length,
th, cm,
a clock
clockwise
wise direction.
direction. Bring the bars togettogether
her such that the  I    = loo
loopp length,
length, dista
distance
nce betwe
between
en the bars
bars when
when the
fabric ends are touching one another. Insert the assembly on a strip is mounted, cm,
suitable holder with the loop formed free to hang vertically.  I    = 0.1
o
0.1337
337L,
L,
 L   = str
strip
ip leleng
ngth
th,, ci
circ
rcum
umfe
fere
rent
ntia
iall le
leng
ngth
th of th
thee
10.3.5 Allow the looped
looped specimen freely for 60 6  5
specimen to hang freely
unclamped portion of the specimen, cm,
s. Measure the distance from the top of the bars to the bottom
of the loop to the nearest 2 mm (0.1 in.).  f(b)   =
= 32
(cos/tan)
(cos/
32.8
.855tan)
d/  I (see
d/ 
o
Tableand
, degree, 3),
10.3
10 .3.6
.6 Remov
Removee th thee ba
bars
rs fr
from
om ththee ho
hold
lder
er anand
d fr
free
ee th
thee d    =   I  −
 −  I  .
o

adhering tape from each end of the strips carefully to prevent 11.5  Flexural Rigidity, Individual Specimens—Calculate the
distortion of the fabric. Turn the specimen strip and test the flexural rigidity for each testing direction to three significant
other side of the fabric by re-attaching to the bars and testing digits using Eq 3.
as described in 10.3.1-10.3.5.
 3  c 3
G 5  W  3 (3)
10.4   Specimen Mass—Determine the fabric mass per unit
area as directed in Test Method D 3776, Option C. where:
10.5   Specimen Area—Determine the area of the specimens G   = flexur
flexural
al rigi
rigidity
dity,, mg cm,
in Section 9.4 to the nearest 0.1 cm 2. W    = fabr
fabric
ic mass
mass per
per unit
unit area, mg/cm2, and
area, mg/cm
10.6  Number of Specimens—Continue as directed in 10.1- c   = benbendin
dingg leng
length,
th, cm, or
10.5 as applicable, until four specimens have been tested for 11.6   Average Values—Calculate the average bending length
each testing direction for each laboratory sampling unit. and flexural rigidity as applicable to a material specification or

4
 

D 1388 – 96 (2002)
TABLE
TABLE 3 Table of  f (0) 
0, deg 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
0 ... 3.855 3.059 2.671 2.425 2.250 2.115 2.007 1.917 1.841
10 1.774 1.716 1.663 1.616 1.573 1.533 1.496 1.462 1.430 1.400
20 1.372 1.345 1.319 1.294 1.271 1.248 1.226 1.205 1.186 1.164
30 1.144 1.126 1.107 1.089 1.071 1.054 1.037 1.022 1.003 0.986
40 0.970 0.954 0.933 0.922 0.906 0.891 0.875 0.860 0.845 0.829
50 0.813 0.799 0.784 0.768 0.753 0.738 0.722 0.707 0.692 0.676
60 0.661 0.645 0.630 0.614 0.596 0.582 0.586 0.549 0.533 0.516
70 0.499 0.482 0.465 0.447 0.429 0.411 0.392 0.373 0.354 0.333
80 0.313 0.291 0.269 0.246 0.222 0.197 0.170 0.140 0.107 0.067

TABLE
TABLE 4 Stif
Stiffness
fness of Fabrics, Bending Length,
Length, cm
contract order for each laboratory sampling unit and for the lot,
Critical Differences for the Conditions Noted A
for each testing direction.
Number of
G 5  9.809 3  10 6  M 3 (4) Single- Within- Between-
Test Option and Observations
Operator Laboratory Laboratory
Materials in Each
Precision Precision Precision
Average
where   M  = mass per unit area in gms/m 2.
Option A, Cantilever, cm 
11.7   Stand
Standard
ard Deviat
Deviation,
ion, Coef
Coefffıcien
ıcientt of Variation—
ariation Mat 4, S/0008H 1 0.17 0.20 0.63
Calculate when requested. 2 0.12 0.16 0.62
5 0.07 0.13 0.61
12. Repor
Reportt 10 0.05 0.12 0.61
Mat 5, S/2438 1 0.30 0.34 0.88
12.1 Report that the stiffness
stiffness as bending length and flexural
flexural 2 0.21 0.27 0.85
rigidity was determined as directed in Test Method D 1388. 5 0.13 0.21 0.83
10 0.09 0.19 0.83
Describe the material or product sampled and the method of  Mat 9, S/Denim 1 0.64 0.75 0.96

sampling used. 2
5
0.45
0.28
0.60
0.49
0.84
0.77
12.2 Repor
Reportt the following
following info
informat
rmation
ion for each laboratory
laboratory
10 0.20 0.44 0.74
samp
sampliling
ng un
unit
it an
andd fo
forr th
thee lo
lott as ap
appl
plic
icab
able
le to a ma mate
teri
rial
al Option B, Heart Loop, cm 
specification or contract order. Mat 1, S/179B 1 0.34 0.39 0.74
12.2.1 Optio
Optionn used, cantilever
cantilever test or heart loop test. 2 0.24 0.31 0.70
5 0.15 0.24 0.68
12.2.2 Bendi
Bending
ng length for each testing
testing dire
direction
ction.. 10 0.11 0.22 0.67
12.2.3 Flexu
Flexural
ral rigidity
rigidity for each test
testing
ing direction.
direction. Mat 5, S/2438 1 0.20 0.21 0.28
2 0.14 0.15 0.24
12.2.4 Numbe
Numberr of speci
specimens
mens tested for each direc
direction.
tion.
5 0.09 0.10 0.21
12.2.5 When calculated,
calculated, the standard deviation
deviation or the coef- 10 0.06 0.08 0.20
ficient of variation. A
The criti
critical
cal diffe
difference
rences
s were calc
calculate
ulated
d usin
using
g   t   = 1.960, which is based on
12.2.6 Make and modemodell of cantilever
cantilever testing machine.
machine. infinite degrees of freedom.
12.2.7 Any modificatio
modification n of the test method.
method.

13. Prec
Precisio
ision
n and Bias specimens of each fabric. Four of the eight specimens were
tested on one day and four specimens were tested on a second
13.1   Summary—In comparing two averages, the differences
day.. Analysis of the data was conducted using Practice D 2904,
day
should
in Tablenot exceed
4 for the single-operator
the respective number ofprecision
tests and values shown
for materials Practice D 2906 and the adjunct “Tex-Pac”. The components of 
variance
vari ance for stif
stiffness
fness expressed
expressed as stand
standard
ard devi
deviation
ationss were
having averages similar to those shown in Table 2 in 95 out of 
calculated to be the values listed in Table 5. The fabric types
100 cases
cases whe
when n all the obs
observ
ervati
ations
ons are tak
taken
en by the same
and designated procedures were:
well-trained operator using the same piece of equipment and
specim
spe cimens
ens ran
random
domlyly dra
drawn
wn fr
from
om the samsample
ple of ma mater
terial
ial..
Larger differences are likely to occur under all other circum- TABLE
TABLE 5 Stif
Stiffness
fness of Fabrics, Bending Length,
Length, cm
stances. Components of Variance Expressed as
13.2   Interlabor atory Test Data6—An inte
Interlaboratory interlab
rlaborato
oratory
ry test Standard DeviationsA
Test Option and Grand
was run in 1994–1995 in which randomly-drawn samples of  Materials Average Single- Within- Between
three materials were tested as directed in Test Method D 1388 Operator Laboratory Laboratory
Component Component Component
in six laboratorie
laboratoriess using Option A, the Canti
Cantilever
lever test.
test. A seco
second
nd
interlaboratory test was run in 1994–1995 in which randomly- Option A, Cantilever, cm 
Mat 4, S/0008H 1.90 0.061 0.040 0.215
drawn samples of two fabrics were tested as directed in Test Mat 5, S/2438 2.60 0.041 0.061 0.108
Method D 1388 in two laboratories using Option B, the Heart Mat 9, S/Denim 5.18 0.229 0.143 0.215
Loop test. Two operators in each laboratory each tested eight Option B, Heart Loop, cm 
Mat 1, S/179B 2.94 0.124 0.068 0.227
Mat 5, S/2438 1.97 0.073 0.017 0.067
A
The square roots of the components of variance are being reported to express
6
ASTM Res
ASTM Researc
earch
h Rep
Report
ort is avai
availab
lable
le from ASTM Head
Headqua
quarter
rters,
s, 100 Bar
Barrr the variability in the appropriate units of measure rather than as the squares of
Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428. those units of measure.

5
 

D 1388 – 96 (2002)
13.2.1  Cantilever Procedure: variance and the critical differences separately. Consequently
(1)   Material
Material 4—S/
4—S/0008H,
0008H, Plain Weave
Weave Sheet
Sheeting,
ing, Wi
With
th no multi-material comparisons were made.
Spun Yarns, NOTE   9—Since
9—Since the interla
interlaborator
boratory
y test for the Heart Loop stiffness
stiffness
(2)   Material 5—S/2438, Plain Weave, Oxford With Spun option inc
option include
luded
d onl
onlyy two mat
materi
erials
als and two lab
labora
orator
tories,
ies, estimates
estimates of 
between-laboratory precision should be used with special caution.
Yarns, NOTE   10—The tabulated
tabulated values of the critical differences
differences should be
(3)  Material 9—Denim, Twill Weave, With Spun Yarns. considered to be a general statement, particularly with respect to between-
laboratory precision. Before a meaningful statement can be made about
13.2.2   Heart Loop Procedure:
two specific laboratories, the amount of statistical bias, if any, between
(1)  Material 1—S/179B, Twill Weave, With Spun Yarns,
them must be on
data obtained established,
specimenswith each
taken fromcomparison beingto
a lot of material based on recent
the type being
(2)   Material 5—S/2438, Plain Weave, Oxford With Spun
eval
evalua
uate
ted
d so as to be as nenear
arly
ly ho
homo
mogegene
neous
ous as popossi
ssible
ble an
and
d th
then
en
Yarns.
randomly assigned in equal numbers to each of the laboratories.
13.3   Precision—For the components of variance reported in
13.4   Bias—Th
—Thee val
value
ue of sti
stifffne
fness
ss of fab
fabric
ricss can only be
Table 5, two averages of observed values should be considered
defined in terms of a test method. Within this limitation, Test
signifi
sig nifican
cantly
tly dif
differ
ferent
ent at the 95 % pro probab
babili
ility
ty lev
level
el if the
Method D 1388 has no known bias.
differen
difference
ce equal
equalss or excee
exceeds
ds the crit
critical
ical differenc
differences es list
listed
ed in
Table 4. There were sufficient differences related to the fabric 14. Keyw
Keywords
ords
type
type anandd st
stru
ruct
ctur
uree to wa
warr
rran
antt li
list
stin
ingg th
thee cocomp
mpon
onen
ents
ts of  14.1 bending length, fabric; fabric; flexural rigidity
rigidity,, stiffness
stiffness

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