An Experimental Study of Aspect Ratio on the Tensile Properties of an Elastic Fabric for Making-up of Pressure Garments

The "cut-and-sewn" pressure garments are normally tailored made in various sizes according to the size of human body as well as the area of burn wounds. When a tubular pressure garment is cut in different length and width measurements, different aspect ratio will be occurred on the elastic fabric for making up the pressure garment. Many therapists in Hong Kong concerned the change of aspect ratio may affect the tensile properties of the elastic fabric and ultimately will affect the skin-and-garment interface pressure for the patient. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of aspect ratio on the tensile properties of an elastic fabric. Two fabric tests were used to evaluate the performance of tensile properties of two elastic fabrics under different aspect ratio. The outcome of the study showed that there is no significant difference between each aspect ratio on the tensile properties.