This part of EN ISO13937 describes a single-tear method to determine fabric tear force, known as the trouser test, using a test specimen cut to form trouser-shaped legs. The tear force measured is the force required to propagate a previously started single tear when the force is applied parallel to the cut and the fabric tears in the direction of applied force.
The test is mainly applicable to woven textile fabrics. It may be applicable to fabrics produced by other techniques, e.g. to some nonwovens (with the same under-mentioned restrictions as for the woven fabrics).
In general the method is not applicable to knitted fabrics and woven elastic fabrics. It is not suitable for highly anisotropic fabrics or loose fabrics where tear transfer from one direction to another direction of the fabric during the tear test is likely to occur.
The method only allows the use of constant-rate-of-extension (CRE) testing machines.
NOTE1: For other tear test methods using tensile-testing machines part3 of EN ISO13937 For other tear test methods using tensile-testing machines4 the tongue test method. Part1 of EN ISO13937 describes the ballistic pendulum (Elmendorf) method.
NOTE2: For the trapezoidal test method, see ISO9073-4 for nonwovens or ISO4674 for coated fabrics.