ASTM STD D 5034-09 ASTM STD D 5035 -11

1. ASTM D5034-09 (2017)
Standard Test Method for Breaking Strength
and Elongation of Textile Fabrics (Grab Test)
ASTM D5035-11 (2019)
Standard Test Method for Breaking Force and
Elongation of Textile Fabrics (Strip Method)

2. Definition
• Breaking Force: the maximum force applied to
a material carried to rupture
– Discussion: Materials that are brittle usually rupture at
the maximum force. Materials that are ductile usually
experience a maximum force before rupturing.
ASTM D5034 & D5035

3. Grab versus Strip
• Grab test measures
effective strength of
fabric (yarns in specific
width, plus assistance
from adjacent yarns)
– Quicker to prepare
– More fabric required per
specimen
• Strip test can be
compared to strength
of equal number of
unwoven yarns
GRAB
STRIP
ASTM D5034 & D5035

4. Apparatus & Materials
• Tensile testing machine (300 ±10 mm/min)
• Clamps and jaw faces
• Pins (for high-strength fabrics)
• For wet test:
– Distilled water
– Nonionic wetting agent (if needed)
• Standard fabrics (for verification)
ASTM D5034 & D5035

5. Tensile Testing Machines
• CRE (Constant Rate of Extension), the pulling
clamp moves at a uniform rate and the force-
measuring mechanism moves a negligible
distance.
• CRL (Constant Rate of Load), the rate of increase
of force is uniform with time after the first 3
seconds and the specimen is free to elongate.
• CRT (Constant Rate of Traverse), the pulling
clamp moves at a uniform rate and the force is
applied through the other clamp which moves
noticeably.
ASTM D5034 & D5035

6. Conditioning
• Condition specimens according to ASTM
D1776
• For wet test: immerse specimens in room
temperature water
– Use nonionic wetting agent if needed
– Test within two minutes of removal from water
ASTM D5034 & D5035

7. Scope: ASTM D5034
• Grab and modified grab procedures for
determining breaking strength
• Mainly used for woven fabrics
– Also, nonwovens and felted fabrics
– NOT recommended for glass, knitted, or high-
stretch (> 11%) fabrics
ASTM D5034

8. Test Options: ASTM D5034
• Type of specimen:
– G (Grab)
– MG (Modified Grab)
• Type of tensile testing machine:
– E (Constant-Rate-of-Extension/CRE)
– L (Constant-Rate-of-Load/CRL)
– T (Constant-Rate-of-Traverse/CRT)
ASTM D5034 & D5035

9. ASTM D5034

10. Jaw Faces: ASTM D5034
Grab Test
• Front face
– 25 mm (1 in) wide
– 25-50 mm (1-2 in) long
• Back face
– At least as large as front
Modified Grab
Test
• Front face
– 25 × 50 mm (1 × 2 in ) min.
– Longer in direction of force
• Back face
– 50 × 50 mm (2 × 2 in ) min.
ASTM D5034
Direction
of
force

11. Specimens: ASTM D5034
Long edges parallel to the testing
direction
• 5 specimens in warp direction
• 8 specimens in fill direction (if
required)
• Cut wet testing specimens
(optional) with same yarns in
test direction as dry
• Extra specimens for time-to-
break test (optional)
wet
1
dry
1
ASTM D5034

12. Specimens: ASTM D5034
Grab Test (G)
• 100 ± 1 mm (4 ± 0.05 in) wide
• at least 150 mm (6 in) long
(depending on jaw face size)
• Draw a line parallel to the long
direction
– along a yarn for woven fabric
– 37 ± 1 mm (1.5 ± 0.02 in) from
one long edge
37 mm 37 mm
25 × 25
mm
10 mm
25 × 25
mm
10 mm
75 mm
gage length
ASTM D5034

13. Specimens:
ASTM D5034
Modified Grab Test (MG)
• Cut and mark as for grab
– Specimen must be at least 200
mm long to accommodate longer
jaw faces (required for modified
grab; optional for grab)
• Slit at midpoint, leaving 25 mm
uncut
50 × 25
mm
10 mm
50 × 25
mm
10 mm
75 mm
gage length
ASTM D5034

14. Procedure: ASTM D5034
• Mount the specimen in the jaws with the
parallel line adjacent to the side of the upper
and lower front jaw faces.
• The parallel line ensures the same
lengthwise yarns (of woven fabrics) are
gripped in both clamps and that the force
application is not at an appreciable angle to
the test direction of nonwoven fabrics.
• Tension on the specimen should be uniform
across the clamp width.
ASTM D5034

15. Procedure: ASTM D5034
ASTM D5034

16. Procedure: ASTM D5034
• Operate the machine and break the
specimen.
• Read the breaking force, and elongation if
required. Record warp and fill direction
results separately.
• If a specimen slips in the jaws, or breaks
at or in the jaws, discard and test another
specimen.
ASTM D5034

17. ASTM D5034

18. Report: ASTM D5034
• Test method
• Material tested
• Average breaking force of acceptable specimens
for each test condition
• Average percent apparent elongation of
acceptable specimens for each test condition and
strip test (if calculated)
• Number of specimens tested in each direction
• Type of specimen and testing machine used
• Maximum force obtainable in the range used for
testing
ASTM D5034

19. Scope: ASTM D5035
• Raveled and cut strip test procedures for
determining the breaking force and elongation of
most textile fabrics.
• Raveled strip test is applicable to woven fabrics
• Cut strip test is applicable to nonwoven, felted,
dipped, and coated fabrics (that can not be
raveled)
• Not recommended for knitted fabrics or for other
textile fabrics which have high stretch (more than
11%).
ASTM D5035

20. Specimens: ASTM D5035
• 1R: 25 mm (1.0 in.) raveled strip test
• 2R: 50 mm (2.0 in.) raveled strip test
• 1C: 25 mm (1.0 in.) cut strip test
• 2C: 50 mm (2.0 in.) cut strip test
ASTM D5035

21. Specimens: ASTM D5035
Long edges parallel to the testing
direction
• 5 specimens in warp direction
• 8 specimens in fill direction (if required)
• Cut wet testing specimens (optional)
with same yarns in test direction as dry
• Extra specimens for time-to-break test
(optional)
ASTM D5034 & D5035

22. 1R Specimens: 1” raveled strip test
ASTM D5035
• Width
– 35 mm (1.5 in) OR
– 25 mm (1 in) plus 20 yarns (whichever is wider)
• Length
– At least 150 mm (6 in)
• Longer for larger jaw faces and high-strength test with
pins
• Remove an approximately equal number of
yarns from each long edge, leaving a testing
width of 25 mm
ASTM D5035

23. 2R Specimens: 2” raveled strip test
ASTM D5035
• Width
– 65 mm (2.5 in) OR
– 50 mm (2.0 in) plus 20 yarns (whichever
is wider)
• Length
– At least 150 mm (6 in)
• Remove an approximately equal
number of yarns from each long edge,
leaving a testing width of 50 mm
ASTM D5035

24. Cut Strip Specimens
ASTM D5035
1C: 1” cut strip test
• 25 mm (1 in) wide
• At least 150 mm (6 in)
long
2C: 2” cut strip test
• 50 mm (2 in) wide
• At least 150 mm (6 in)
long
ASTM D5035

25. Jaw Faces: ASTM D5035
• At least 10 mm (0.5 in) wider than
specimen
≥ 35 mm (1.5 in) for 1R and 1C
≥ 60 mm (2.5 in) for 2R and 2C
• At least 25 mm (1 in) in direction of force
ASTM D5035

26. Procedure: ASTM D5035
• Mount the specimen securely in the clamps. Make
sure it is centrally located and that the long
dimension is as nearly parallel as possible to the
direction of force application.
• Operate the machine and break the specimen.
• Read the breaking force, and elongation if
required. Record warp and fill direction results
separately.
• If a specimen slips in the jaws, or breaks at or in
the jaws, discard and test another specimen.
ASTM D5035

27. Report: ASTM D5035
• Test method (ASTM D5035-11)
• Material tested
• Average breaking force of acceptable specimens for
each test condition and strip test
• Average percent apparent elongation of acceptable
specimens for each test condition and strip test (if
calculated)
• Number of specimens tested in each direction
• Type of strip test and testing machine used
• Maximum force obtainable in the range used for
testing
ASTM D5035

28. Report: ASTM D5035
• Pretension (if any)
• Size of jaw faces
• Jaw padding or specimen modification (if any)
• Number of yarns in the width of the strip (if < 20)
• Average time required to break, if applicable, for
all specimens giving acceptable breaks
• Condition (dry or wet)
• For wet specimens, note whether allowance was
made for shrinkage
• Sizing/finish removal method (if applicable)
ASTM D5035

29. High-Strength Fabrics
• Modify jaws or specimen to
reduce slippage
• Test with pins to reduce
slippage
ASTM D5034 & D5035