Numerical simulation of textile flexibility testing

A non‐linear numerical simulation of a standard procedure for textile flexibility testing is performed using discretised beam bending model. Geometric non‐linearity due to large deflections is traced using incremental method. Linear moment‐curvature response is assumed, as well as constant curvature of a finite element of the beam. Numerical procedure is incorporated into a PC programme producing graphical results for the deformed shape of the specimen, non‐linear load‐deflection diagrams and internal force distributions in deformed state. Finally, the method is applied to compute the flexural stiffness of textile materials from the data produced by the standard procedure for flexibility testing.