INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF APPLIED RESEARCH ON TEXTILE, CIRAT-7

November 10 – 12, 2016 Hammamet, Tunisia

ISSN 2286-5659

Influence of the manufacturing parameters of compression garments on the interface pressure

Houda Barhoumi1, Saber Marzougui2 and Saber Ben Abdessalem1
1
Monastir University, Textile Materials and Processes Research Unit, Tunisia
2
Monastir University, Textile Engineering Laboratory, Tunisia

ABSTRACT: Generally, compressions knitted structures are characterized by various mechanical parameters like
strength, extension, resistance, elasticity, compression, etc. In our work we attempt to study the influence of
the manufacturing parameters on the interface pressure generated by compression garment. A model based
on fuzzy logic approach is developed in order to establish the relationship between interface pressure and
construction parameters. In fact, Knitted fabrics containing elastane with different linear density, and different
stitch length were studied. It was found that the increase of elastane consumption and its yarn count induce an
increase of interface pressure. However, the increase of stitch length produces a lower pressure. The results
found by fuzzy logic are compared with those found by the experiments. The validity of fuzzy logic model has
been demonstrated, by analyzing the correlation coefficient, comparing them to experimental results.

KEYWORDS: Interface pressure, stitch length, Elastane yarn, knitted garment, fuzzy logic

properties and the pressure profile generated by

1. INTRODUCTION
Compression garments are known as a potent
medical product designed to treat venous
diseases. Many researches proved the
importance of wearing compressive clothes to
treat the venous insufficiency and lymphatic
disorders (Delis et al., 2003), (Gree, Jones, 1980).
The application of an external compression
garment causes diverse physiological and
biochemical effects concerning the venous,
arterial and lymphatic systems. Seen their
efficiency in the medical sector, compressive
clothes invaded the sports fields. This use was
well documented in the literature as method
which offers a good improvement of the recovery
and the covering of muscles after an intense
effort, an increase of blood flow, reduction of the
fatigue and a better oxygenation of muscles
(HILL, 2013), (Perry, 2008). As reported by
(Partsch, 2005), the prescribed amount of
pressure required for different medical
conditions is as follows: light pressure (10–14
mmHg), moderate pressure (18.4–21.2 mmHg),
firm pressure (25.1–32.1 mmHg), and strong
pressure (36.4–46.5 mmHg). To obtain the
required pressure, several researchers have
attempted to establish the quantitative
relationship between the compression garment’s
this garment. However researches related to the
influence of elastane percentage, elastane yarn
count and stitch length on the interface pressure
remains limited.
Therefore in this study we will investigate the
impact of parameters cited above on interface
pressure.
2. MATERIAL AND METHOD
2.1. Experimental equipment
Two kinds of knitted fabric (plain and piqué), with
various elastane percentages, yarn count and
stitch length, were studied in this work. The
elastic knitted garments were in the form of
legging.
Since body compressibility is a complex factor
and largely varies between people, several
researchers have prescribed their experiment on
measuring interface pressure on rigid body
(Gaied et al., 2006), (Chattopadhyay et al, 2012).
Thus, in this study we used a rigid mannequin leg
to measure the interfacial pressure.
All pressure measurements were made with an
ultra-thin flexible sensor (0.15 mm), sensor
model Flexi-Force® sensor A201. Flexi-Force®
sensors were incorporated into force-to-volage

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circuit system that was developed according to 60.000

circuit recommended by the user manuel 50.000
(figure1).

Pressure (mmHg)
R² = 0.9924
40.000
It’s recommended to calibrate the pressure
sensor before use as shown in figure 1, the 30.000

calibration procedure was carried out using 20.000

different masses levels: 5, 15, 20, 30, 40 and 50 g. 10.000
These masses were put on the active area of the 0.000
pressure sensor (71.1𝑚𝑚2 ). 0.41 0.945 1.864 3.56 4.69 9.63
After that we converted this loads into a pressure Voltage (V)
knowing that 1g=0.0098N and 1N/(m)^2=1 Pa=
0.007501 mmHg. Figure 3 shows the linear Figure 3: the relationship between pressure and
relationship between pressure (mmHg) and voltage values
voltage (V) values with R2=0.99.
In this study we focus at the interface pressure
applied at the ankle (point measurement B)
because it is considered by the European
Committee for Standardization as a reference point
to classify pressure classes.

2.2. Fuzzy logic

In fuzzy logic, model is in the form of If-Then

rules rather than a mathematical equation. A
fuzzy system is composed of three main steps as
shown in figure 4:

Figure 1: Flexi-force® sensor’s calibration

Four sensors were attached on the leg at

different levels (B, B1, C and D) in accordance
with the European Committee for
Standardization, as shown in figure 2.
Figure 4: structure of fuzzy logic system

• Fuzzification of input data: in this stage we

define the input membership functions.
• Rules establishing: in this step we identify
rules and inferences.
• Defuzzification of output data: it is the final
step in which we define the output
membership function

2.2.1. Define inputs

Figure 2: The important measuring points on the
human leg according to European Committee for
Standardization (CEN)
The interface pressure depends on diverse
factors. Many researches were focused on
studying the influence of construction
parameters on mechanical properties of knitted
compression fabrics. Umar et al. studied the
relation between elastane yarn count and loop
length on the stretchability and recovery of

2
compression garment designed for sport’s Table 1: Levels of input and output parameters
application. They concluded that compressibility
of the fabric increases with the increase in Input Output
elastane linear density and decreases slightly parameters parameters
with the increase in ground yarn loop length EL SL YC P
Levels
(Umar et al., 2015). Another study has shown (%) (mm/needle) (dTex) (mmHg)
that the stitch density and elastane yarn count I 6 2 17 12.5
II 12 2.4 44 17.5
have direct effect on interface pressure produced
III 18 2.8 27.5
by compression hosiery (Bera et al, 2014). Homa IV 42.5
et al. highlighted the effect of the stitch length on
the interface pressure. They declared that there
is a significant decline in pressure values exerted
by the sample having the lowest stitch (Homa et
al., 2011). Referring to this studies, elastane
percentage (EL in %), elastane yarn count (YC in
dTex) and stitch length (SL in mm/needle) were
considered as inputs parameters and the
interface pressure (P) is considered as output
parameter for a fuzzy system as shown in figure
5.
Figure 6: Membership function of elastane percentage
(%)

Figure5: Fuzzy logic interface system

2.2.2. Fuzzification Figure 7: Membership function of stitch length

(mm/needle)
In order to choose the most suitable membership
function, we were tried three different
membership functions (triangular, trapezoidal
and Gaussian functions). Among this tested
membership functions we adopt trapezoidal
membership function because it gives more
effective evaluation and widely fits to interface
pressure plot.
The input parameters EL and SL have three
different levels (I, II and III). For EL, I
Figure 8: Membership function of yarn count (dTex)
corresponding to “low”, II referring to “medium”
and III to “high” level. For SL, I corresponding to
“tight”, II referring to “medium” and III to Concerning the output variable P (interface
“loose”. YC presents only two levels, then I pressure), compression supports are classified
corresponding to “range 1” and II to “range 2” as into four classes depending on the pressure
shown in figures 6-8. applied at the ankle. In fact, According to the
Characteristics of tested samples and their levels French Association for Standardization (AFNOR)
used for the prediction of fuzzy model are the class I (C1), of compression support, applies a
presented in table 1. range of pressure between 10 mmHg and 15
mmHg, it is considered the mild class. The second

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class, Class II (C2), generates a moderate pressure

from 15 mmHg to 20 mmHg. Class III (C3) applies
a strong pressure from 20 mmHg to 35 mmHg
and the latest class which is class IV (C4)
generates a range of pressure between 35 and 50
mmHg, it is considered a very strong pressure.

2.2.3. Rules establishing

In this study, rules are developed according to
experimental results. After measuring the
interface pressure using sensors and different
samples having various levels of input parameters
we note the obtained rule as seen table 2.
Table 2: Fuzzy rules
Rule N° Rules
If (EL is law) and (YC is Range 1) and (SL is
1
loose) then (P is C1)
If (EL is law) and (YC is Range 1) and (SL is
2 human leg. Having high elasticity, the
medium) then (P is C1)
If (EL is medium) and (YC is Range 2) and
3
(SL is tight) then (P is C2)
4
If (EL is medium) and (YC is Range 1) and
(SL is medium) then (P is C2)
If (EL is medium) and (YC is Range 1) and
5
(SL is loose) then (P is C2)
If (EL is law) and (YC is Range 2) and (
6 compression garment is widely related to
SL is tight) then (P is C2)
If (EL is high) and (YC is Range 1) and (SL is
7 stretchability and recovery (Bera et al., 2014).
loose) then (P is C3)
If (EL is high) and (YC is Range 2) and (SL is
8 the compression garment having more elastane
tight) then (P is C3)
3. RESULT AND DISCUSSION
Figures 9 and 10 show the evolution of interface
pressure as a function of the input parameters.
Figure 9: Interface pressure evolution as function of EL
and YC
Figure 10: Interface pressure evolution as function of
EL and SL
The effect of overall studied parameters on
interface pressure is shown in figure 9 and 10.
We observed that elastane percentage is the
most important and influential factor. In fact,
whatever the value of other factors, when
elastane percentage exceeds level III, the
pressure increases noticeably. In general, the
compression garment has a lower radius than the
compression garment has high tendency to
return to the initial state after ceasing to apply a
force. So after wearing a compression garment, it
compresses the body trying to recover its initial
state (Lui et al., 2005), (Wang et al., 2011). Bera
et al. also showed that pressure generated by a
elastane percentage, in other words to the
Additionally, Wong et al proved that when in use,
percentage well be more stretched providing
optimum compression (Wang et al., 2011).
Yarn count affects also the pressure values. It is
clear from figure 9 that it has a direct influence
on the response. When the elastane yarn
becomes thicker a high pressure value will be
obtained. This can be explained by the fact that
the high elastane yarn count (77 dTex) generates
an important attractive force inter-stitch which
engenders a higher pressure. However, the stitch
length has a reverse effect on the interface
pressure. Indeed, the samples with the lowest
stitch length generate the greatest pressure, as
shown in figure 10. This is can be explain by the
fact that when the stitch length increases the
stitches become larger and more space between
stitches will be generated. This allows the knitted
garment to become looser, thus loses its
compressibility. Likewise, Senthilkumar et al.

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demonstrated that the increase of stitch length In order to validate the developed fuzzy model,
produce a decrease of stitch density as a result we tested other compression garments whose
the compressibility of the knitted fabric physical properties are summarized in Table 3.
(Senthilkumar et al., 2012).

Table 3: Comparison between predicted and experimental outputs of the tested samples using different inputs

Parameters level Results

Experiment EL YC SL Experimental pressure predicted pressure
number (%) (dTex) (mm/needle) values (mmHg) values (mmHg)
1 8 17 2.8 12.36 12.5
2 8 17 2.2 14.525 13.7
3 10 17 2.4 15.335 15.9
4 8 44 2.2 18.765 17.9
5 20 17 2.8 21.212 20.5
6 20 17 2.2 23.196 23.6
7 20 44 2.8 25.272 25.2
8 20 44 2.2 26.894 26.1

Comparing the predicted output values, using the 4. CONCLUSION

fuzzy logic model, with the measured
experimental values, we noticed a good Through studying the manufacturing parameters
correlation between them with R2 equal to 0.99. of two types of compression garment (plain and
Figure 10 show the relationship between piqué), and analyzing their influence on interface
experimental and predicted values of the pressure we observe that the pressure is widely
interface pressure. depended on the characteristics of knitted fabric.
A comparison between experimental and
28
2
R =0,993
theoretical results shows that fuzzy modeling
26 method is reliable and can be used to evaluate
Predicted pressure using fuzy logic (mmHg)

24 and predict the interface pressure generated by a

22
compression garment. Fuzzy model shows that
elastane percentage and yarn count of elastane
20
yarn have a direct effect on the compression.
18 Contrariwise, the stitch length has a reverse
16 effect on the interface pressure.
14

12
12
Figure 10: experimental pressure and their predicted
values using fuzzy model
To sum up, the fuzzy logic model that we have
developed is reliable and can be used to predict
the interfacial pressure of compression garments.
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14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28
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