Strip and Grab Tensile Test Methods

Strip tensile test (ISO 13934-1) cuts specimens to exactly 50 mm width (parallel thread ravelling for woven fabrics: remove threads to achieve exactly 50 mm width ensuring all load-bearing yarns are included), 300 mm length, gauge length 200 mm, extension rate 100 mm/min (breaking time 20 ±3 sec target) — measures true fabric width strength without lateral yarn contribution. Grab test (ISO 13934-2) uses 100 mm wide specimens with 25 mm jaw width — only central 25 mm width bears primary load while flanking yarns contribute via inter-yarn friction, making grab result 40–80% higher than strip for woven fabrics but more representative of localised seam stress. Method selection guidance: strip test preferred for technical textiles, geotextiles (ISO 10319 geotextile tensile using 200 mm wide specimens at 20 mm/min), and industrial fabrics where width-specific strength (kN/m) specification is required; grab test preferred for apparel specification (simulates seam stress concentration) and AATCC/North American buyer specifications. Force-extension curve analysis: initial modulus (slope of linear region, kN/m or N per unit strain), yield point (if present in woven fabrics from yarn crimp interchange), maximum force, elongation at maximum force, and energy-to-break (area under curve, J or N·m) all extractable from CRE tensile tester (Zwick Roell Z010, Instron 3369, SDL Atlas M300): load cell range 100–10,000 N depending on fabric type, crosshead speed 10–500 mm/min programmable. Wet tensile testing (ISO 13934-1 wet variant, fabric soaked 30 min in distilled water, tested immediately): cotton wet tenacity 105–110% dry (strengthens wet), viscose 40–60% (critical limitation for viscose warp weaving), nylon 85–90%, polyester 100% (unaffected by water).