| Abstract: | Needled fabrics are complicated structures, and an exact analysis of their mechanics is not yet possible. Understanding is approached through three routes. Firstly, the behaviour of a fully bonded web is used to predict the effects of orientation, and to estimate the upper limits of strength. These estimates may be reasonable if the network that actually exists at the breaking point is used in calculations. Needled fabrics can give a fairly high utilization of fibre strength. Secondly, the effects of slippage are discussed qualitatively, by analogy with the behaviour of spun yams. The influences of entanglement, fibre length, fibre fineness, and fibre friction are discussed. Thirdly, a quantitative analysis, with many approximations, of a much-simplified model is made. Despite the unsatisfactory nature of some of the assumptions, the predictions are in general accord with experimental results. |
