Prediction of Handle Value of Bed Linen Fabrics Using Computational Method

Abstract

A computational method was developed for the prediction of handle value of the bed linen fabrics by using step-wise block regression method. The objective evaluation of fabric hand would contribute in engineering and developing the bed linen fabrics that offers maximum comfort while sleeping. The subjective evaluation of fabric hand restricts the engineering of the high-quality fabrics and the scientific understanding of the fabric properties. The expert’s opinion selected the four primary hand properties that are soft feeling, smoothness, fullness, and stiffness influencing the handle of the bed linen fabrics. Primary and total hand equations were developed using the 16 basic mechanical properties. The experimental total hand value was also calculated using existing hand equation for futon’s cloth and the statistical approach was followed to investigate the correlation between subjective, experimental, and computational total hand values. An excellent correlation of 0.889 was found between the subjective and computational hand values. The research concludes that the total hand value of the bed linen fabrics can be predicted with tolerable accuracy level.

Keywords

• specialty fabric
• bed linen
• objective evaluation
• computational method
• stepwise block regression
• total hand value