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)
 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

 Grab versus Strip
• Grab test measures
effective strength of fabric
GRAB
(yarns in specific width,
plus assistance from
adjacent yarns)
– Quicker to prepare
– More fabric required per
specimen
• Strip test can be
STRIP

compared to strength of
equal number of unwoven
ASTM D5034 &yarns
D5035
 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

 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

 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

 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
 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

ASTM D5034
 Jaw Faces: ASTM D5034
Modified Grab
Grab Test Test

Direction of force
• Front face • Front face
– 25 mm (1 in) wide – 25 × 50 mm (1 × 2 in ) min.
– 25-50 mm (1-2 in) long – Longer in direction of force
• Back face • Back face
– At least as large as front – 50 × 50 mm (2 × 2 in )
min.

ASTM D5034
 Specimens: ASTM D5034

Long edges parallel to the testing dry

1

direction
wet

• 5 specimens in warp direction 1

• 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
 Specimens: ASTM D5034
10 mm

Grab Test (G)

37 mm 37 mm
25 × 25
mm
• 100 ± 1 mm (4 ± 0.05 in) wide
• at least 150 mm (6 in) long
(depending on jaw face size)
75 mm
• Draw a line parallel to the long gage length

direction
– along a yarn for woven fabric
– 37 ± 1 mm (1.5 ± 0.02 in) from one long 25 × 25
edge mm

10 mm

ASTM D5034
 Specimens: 10 mm
ASTM D5034

50 × 25

Modified Grab Test (MG) mm

• Cut and mark as for grab

75 mm
– Specimen must be at least 200 gage length

mm long to accommodate longer

jaw faces (required for modified
grab; optional for grab)
• Slit at midpoint, leaving 25 mm
uncut
50 × 25
mm

ASTM D5034 10 mm
 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
Procedure: ASTM D5034

ASTM D5034
 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
ASTM D5034
 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
 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
 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
 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

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

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

ASTM D5034 & D5035