The effect of along-fibre diameter variation on fibre tensile behaviour

This paper reports an empirical study on the effect of along-fibre diameter variation on the tensile behaviour of animal fibres. A key result from this study is that for the first time, an empirical relationship is established that equates the maximum fibre strain with the sum of the average fibre strain and the along-fibre diameter variation. While the maximum fibre strain governs the fibre breakage behaviour, it is the average fibre strain that can be obtained in a normal tensile test. The empirical relationship allows the calculation of the maximum fibre strain from the average value, once the along-fibre diameter variation is known.