Evaluation of patterned fabric surface roughness

Abstract

An approach for the contact-less evaluation of the patterned fabrics surface roughness has been described. The special arrangement of textile bend around sharp edge combined with CCD camera is proposed for obtaining surface profile images in the cross direction. The system of controlled movement in the machine direction allows obtaining the set of fabric surface profiles images at the specified places (on the lines transect of the surface in the cross direction). The image analysis is used for the extraction of surface profile traces. The surface roughness in two dimensions (surface heights in the whole plane) is composed from individual surface profile traces. For characterization of surface roughness the procedures based on classical and Fourier analysis are utilized. The applicability of this approach for the surface roughness description is demonstrated on the one type of cord fabrics. The Fourier analysis allows the characterization of repeated patterns in the cross direction and their uniformity in the machine direction.