Architectural woven polyester fabrics: Examination of possible classification of stiffness values in correlation with strength values

Down to the present day, the determination of stiffness parameters for architectural fabrics, mainly used as coated woven fabrics, is a field of intense discussion. Designers and material producers are affected by an existing uncertainty. The present contribution investigates the possibility to provide tables of tensile stiffness parameters for specific materials in which tensile stiffness values are given dependent on the material’s tensile strength. The focus is on PVC-coated polyester fabrics as the most commonly used material for textile architecture. Materials of four different producers have been tested experimentally. Furthermore, from each material producer products of different strength classes have been considered in the test series. To achieve a general statement on the possibility of material classification according to their tensile stiffness, material parameters of two different material formulations have been investigated: (1) for a simplified but widely applied linear-elastic material model based on a standardized test and evaluation method and (2) for a recently developed more advanced orthotropic hyperelastic nonlinear material model. The tensile stiffness parameters are statistically evaluated and compared. In order to achieve a required basis, standardized and project-specific biaxial test procedures are presented and analysed in combination with established evaluation procedures. A tabulation of tensile stiffness parameters would be of great help for design engineers and material producers. The results of the present work will lead to a possible classified tabulation of the investigated materials in a meaningful manner.