Investigation of Seam Behavior against Tensile Loads

In the present study, the seam failure mechanism as a function of tensile loads is investigated in more details in ord to be used as a guide for the seam design to improve the seam performance. To this end, the seam strength of various common clothing fabrics was examined. The fabrics were different in terms of density, weight and yarn count. The samples were prepared with various sewing parameters such as stitch type, stitch density, and seam allowance. The seam strength was measured by a tensile testing machine. After the seam rupture, some photos were taken to inspect the reason for the seam failure. The results showed that based on the fabric tensile strength and sewing parameter the interaction between fabric and sewing thread may differ and lead to three seam break mechanisms. It was found that the inspection of the fabric structure before seam design is beneficial for the correct selection of the sewing parameters and enhancing the seam efficiency.