In this study, a series of plain knitted fabrics are produced on a flat knitting machine with glass fiber yarns for composite reinforcement. Their geometrical and dimensional properties are experimentally investigated. The influences of the loop length, fabric tightness factor, and yarn linear density on the number of the courses per cm and number of the wales per cm, loop shape factor and thickness are analyzed. The fiber volume fraction is calculated from filament and fabric dimensional parameters and its relation with fabric tightness factor is discussed. It is expected that the results obtained from this work could be useful and helpful in knitted fabric composite design.
Cuong, N.K., Yamane, H. and Maekawa, Z.I. (2000). Mechanical Properties of Knitted Fabric Reinforced Polypropylene Composites, Adv. Comp. Mater., 9(1): 25—35.
2.
Gommers, B., Verpoest, I. and Houtte, P.V. (1996). Modelling the Elastic Properties of Knitted-Fabric-Reinforced Composites, Comp. Sci. Technol., 56(3): 685—694.
3.
Huang, Z.M. (2001). A Unified Micromechanical Model for the Mechanical Properties of Two Constituent Composite Materials. Part III: Strength Behavior , J. Thermop. Comp. Mater., 14(6): 54—69.
4.
Huang, Z.M. (2001). Prediction of Tensile Strength of Multilayer Knitted-Fabric-Reinforced Laminated Composites, Comp. Mater., 14(1): 70—83.
5.
Huang, Z.M., Zhang, Y.Z. and Ramakrishna, S. (2001). Modeling of the Progressive Failure Behavior of Multilayer Knitted Fabric-reinforced Composite Laminates, Compo. Sci. Technol., 61(14): 2033—2046.
6.
Huysmans, G. , Verpoest, I. and Houtte, P.V. (2001). A Damage Model for Knitted Fabric Composite, Composites: Part A, 32(10): 1465—1475.
7.
Ramakrishna, S. (1997). Characterization and Modeling of the Tensile Properties of Plain Weft-Knit Fabric-Reinforced Composites , Comp. Sci. Technol., 57(11): 1—22.
8.
Ramakrishna, S., Huang, Z.M., Teoh , S.H., et al. (2000). Application of the Model of Leaf and Glaskin to Estimating the 3D Elastic Properties of Knitted-Fabric-Reinforced Composites, J. Textile Inst., 91(1): 132—150.
9.
Rudd, C.D., Owen, M.J. and Middleton, V. (1990). Mechanical Properties of Weft Knit Glass Fibre/Polyester Laminates, Comp. Sci. Technol., 39(3): 261—277.
10.
Lau, K.W. and Dias, T. (1994). Knittability of High Modulus Yarns, J. Textile Inst., 85(2): 173—191.
11.
Savci, S. (2001). Knittability of Glass Fibre Weft-Knitted Preforms for Composites, Textile Res. J., 71(1): 15—21.
12.
Leaf, G.A.V. and Glaskin, A. (1955). The Geometry of the Plain Knitted Loop, J. Textile Inst., 46: T587—605.
13.
Knapton, J.J.F. , Ahrens, F.J., Ingenthron , W.W. and Fong, W. (1968). The Dimensional Properties of Knitted Wool Fabrics, Part 1: The Plain-Knitted Structure, Textile Res. J., 38(10): 999—1012.
14.
Munden, D.L. (1959). The Geometry and Dimensional Properties of Jersey Knit Fabrics, J. Textile Inst., 50(6): T 448—471.
15.
Zurek, W., Cislo, R., Bailek, U. and Dziewiecka, M. (1986). Physical Properties of Weft Knitted Fabrics, Textile Res. J., 56(4): 241—248.
