STUCTURAL MECHANICS OF YARNS

Q.1 Find relation in between contraction factor (𝑐𝑦 ) and retraction factor (𝑅𝑦 ) and
theories associated with it.
Important points to be noted to understand contraction behavior

 Contraction in yarn occurs because of migration of fibers in yarns as fibers follow longer
path in yarn.
 Due to contraction there is effective averaging of different fibre length.
 As fibers are near the center they will consume more length compared to fibre at surface
due to migration of fibre due to twist contraction.
 Contraction problem makes existence of slow migration enables idealized twist
geometry (without twist migration) to be used in calculation.

Magnitude of contraction has been defined in two types:

𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑧𝑒𝑟𝑜 𝑡𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑡 𝑦𝑎𝑟𝑛
Contraction factor (𝑐𝑦 ) = 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑦𝑎𝑟𝑛

(𝑙𝑜 )
𝑐𝑦 = (Value ranges from 1 to ∞)
(𝑙𝑡 )

𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑧𝑒𝑟𝑜 𝑡𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑡 𝑦𝑎𝑟𝑛(𝑙𝑜)−𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑦𝑎𝑟𝑛(𝑙𝑡 )

Retraction (𝑅𝑦 ) = (value ranges from 0 to1)
𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑧𝑒𝑟𝑜 𝑡𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑡 𝑦𝑎𝑟𝑛(𝑙𝑜)

(𝑙𝑜)−(𝑙𝑡 )
𝑅𝑦 = (value ranges from 0 to 1)
(𝑙𝑜)

Clearly,
𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑧𝑒𝑟𝑜 𝑡𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑡 𝑦𝑎𝑟𝑛 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑦𝑎𝑟𝑛
Retraction (𝑅𝑦 ) = (𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑧𝑒𝑟𝑜 𝑡𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑡 𝑦𝑎𝑟𝑛)-(𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑧𝑒𝑟𝑜 𝑡𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑡 )
𝑦𝑎𝑟𝑛

1
Retraction (𝑅𝑦 )= (1)-(𝐶 )
𝑦

1
1 − 𝑅𝑦 = 𝐶
𝑦

1
(𝑐𝑦 ) = (1−𝑅
𝑦)

1
Contraction factor (𝑐𝑦 ) = (1−𝑅 )------------------------------------------------------- (1)
𝑦
 Contraction factor value ranges from 1 to infinity and is more useful in dealing with staple
fiber yarns where it represents the factor by which the draft must be increased in order to
prevent the twist contraction changing the yarn count.

The retraction which ranges from 0 to 1 is more useful with continuous filament yarns where
it gives the fractional decrease in length or increase of denier on twisting.

h sec α o

α α

h L l L h

h L= h secα
a
x
b C e

ℎ ℎ
cos α =𝑜𝑝 or, op= cos α or, op = h sec α
L=h sec α
Let ab=de=x
l =mean fibre length & α=surface angle

l =h+x …………………………………. (2)

l=h secα­x--------------------------------------- (3)

Adding equation 2 & 3

ℎ(1+𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝛼)
2l = h+h sec 𝛼 , or l = 2

𝑙
As we know 𝑐𝑦 = 𝑙𝑜
𝑡

Here 𝑙𝑜 =l & 𝑙𝑡 =h,

ℎ+ℎ𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝛼
𝑙 2
𝑐𝑦 = ℎ ⇛ 𝑐𝑦 = ℎ

1
⇛ 𝑐𝑦 = 2(1+sec 𝛼) ………………..(4)

𝑙𝑜−𝑙𝑡
∴ 𝑅𝑦 = 𝑙𝑜

Here 𝑙𝑜 =l & 𝑙𝑡 =h
ℎ
𝑙−ℎ (1+sec 𝛼)−ℎ
𝑅𝑦 = ⇛ 𝑅𝑦 = 2 ℎ
𝑙 (1+sec 𝛼)
2

1
(1+sec 𝛼)−1
⇛ 𝑅𝑦 = 2 1
(1+sec 𝛼)
2

1
(sec 𝛼−1)
2
⇛ 𝑅𝑦 = 1
(sec 𝛼+1)
2

(sec 𝛼−1)
⇛ 𝑅𝑦 = (sec 𝛼+1)

(1−cos 𝛼)
𝑅𝑦 = (1+cos 𝛼)

𝛼
𝑅𝑦 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 2 ………………………………. (5)
Experimental value of contraction and retraction shown in following table

Twist angle (α) degree Contraction factor (𝐶𝑦 ) Retraction factor (𝑅𝑦 )
0 1 0
10 1-008 0.008
20 1-032 0.031
30 1-078 0-072
40 1-153 0-132
50 1-278 0-217

From equation 4
1
𝑐𝑦 (𝑐𝑦 − 1)= 4 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝛼 ------------------ (6)

This is convenient form in which to check experimental results by seeing it they yields straight line with a
1𝑡ℎ
slope of 4
when 𝑐𝑦 (𝑐𝑦 − 1) is plotted against 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝛼 .

From equation no 4 and 5, based on experimental result is observed that polyester and Terylene yarn
shows good agreement with theory, however viscose yarn contract less than predicated when twisted
under high tension. The contraction may be due to some permanent extension of the filament.

In general it can be said that equation 4 and 5 behaves predicted behavior continuous filament yarn but
deviation occurs for irregular twist and doesn’t form a single cylindrical helical yarn or if there is
permanent straining of the filament yarn or buckling of center filament.

References:-

1. J.W.S. Hearle & P. Grosberg Structural Mechanics of Fibre, Yarn, and Fabric vol.1, 1996,
Page No.69-72.