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ASTM D5035 - Textile Tensile Strength    Strip Method

ASTM D5035 Strip Method
ASTM D5035 - Fabric Tensile Strength

Downloads: ASTM D5035 PDF (PDF) · Textile Testing Training Deck & Overview - Full Guide (PDF)

Written by Chris Thomas, Universal Grip Company · Reviewed by Frank Bertini · Updated October 23, 2026

ASTM D5035 is the strip tensile test for textile fabrics. A 25 mm (1 in) or 50 mm (2 in) wide strip is clamped across its full width with 75 mm (3 in) between the jaws, then pulled at 300 mm/min (12 in/min) until it breaks. The test reports the breaking force for that strip width and the apparent elongation at break.

This guide covers the four specimen types (1R, 2R, 1C, 2C), how to ravel a strip, jaw-face sizing, speed and load-cell selection, conditioning and wet testing, the jaw-break rules, calculations with a worked example, and how D5035 compares with the ASTM D5034 grab test and ISO 13934-1.

Note: Current edition: ASTM D5035-11 (Reapproved 2024). The technical content has not changed since the 2011 revision. Work from your own licensed copy of the standard; this guide explains it but does not replace it.

What ASTM D5035 measures and who uses it

The full title is "Standard Test Method for Breaking Force and Elongation of Textile Fabrics (Strip Method)". It is maintained by ASTM Committee D13 on Textiles, subcommittee D13.60. The method measures two properties: breaking force, the maximum force the strip carries before it ruptures, in newtons or pounds-force; and apparent elongation, the extension at breaking force expressed as a percentage of the 75 mm gauge length.

D5035 is a tensile test, not a tear test; tear resistance has its own methods, such as the tongue tear test in ASTM D2261. In a strip test, every yarn that carries load is held in both jaws, so the result describes the strength of a defined width of fabric. In the D5034 grab test, by contrast, only the centre 25 mm of a 100 mm specimen is clamped and the unclamped yarns on either side help carry the load. The two results cannot be converted from one to the other.

The standard contains two procedures. The raveled strip is for woven fabrics and is accepted for commercial acceptance testing of wovens. The cut strip is for nonwovens, felted fabrics and dipped or coated fabrics. Typical users are woven and technical fabric mills, filter-media and nonwoven producers, coated-fabric converters and independent textile labs. Product specifications also call it up; ASTM E2098 for EIFS reinforcing mesh, for example, refers to D5035.

D5035 is not recommended for knitted fabrics or any fabric with more than 11 % stretch, and glass fabrics are covered by ASTM D579 and D580. Fabrics stronger than about 200 N per cm of width (about 114 lbf per inch) may need a modified technique such as a pin wrap. For the other fabric tests a lab usually runs alongside D5035, see our textile testing guide and the textiles page.

ASTM D5035 at a glance

  • Standard: ASTM D5035-11 (Reapproved 2024), Breaking Force and Elongation of Textile Fabrics (Strip Method)

  • Specimen types: 1R and 2R (raveled strip), 1C and 2C (cut strip)

  • Width: 25 mm (1 in) or 50 mm (2 in); cut strips held to ±1 mm

  • Length: at least 150 mm (6 in), or 95 mm plus twice the jaw-face length, whichever is longer

  • Gauge length (distance between clamps): 75 ± 1 mm (3 ± 0.05 in)

  • Speed: 300 ± 10 mm/min (12 ± 0.5 in/min) on a CRE machine, or a CRT setting that gives a 20 ± 3 s time-to-break

  • Jaw faces: at least 10 mm (0.5 in) wider than the strip and at least 25 mm (1 in) long in the load direction

  • Specimens: 5 warp (machine direction) and 8 filling (cross direction) per laboratory sample, for each test condition

  • Pretension: no more than 0.5 % of full-scale force, and only when elongation is measured

  • Force range: breaks must fall between 10 % and 90 % of the selected full scale

  • Conditioning: the ASTM D1776 standard atmosphere for testing textiles; wet testing optional

  • Results: average breaking force (N or lbf) for the strip width and average apparent elongation (%)

D5035 specimen types: 1R, 2R, 1C and 2C

D5035 uses a short code for the specimen and machine. The number is the nominal width in inches (1 = 25 mm, 2 = 50 mm). The letter R means raveled and C means cut. A machine letter follows: E for constant-rate-of-extension (CRE), L for constant-rate-of-load (CRL) and T for constant-time-to-break (CRT). So 1R-E is a 25 mm raveled strip tested on a CRE machine. Put this code in the report.

  • 1R: cut 35 mm (1.5 in) wide, or 25 mm plus 20 yarns, whichever is wider; ravel to 25 mm

  • 2R: cut 65 mm (2.5 in) wide, or 50 mm plus 20 yarns, whichever is wider; ravel to 50 mm

  • 1C: cut to 25 ± 1 mm wide

  • 2C: cut to 50 ± 1 mm wide

  • All types: at least 150 mm (6 in) long, with the long dimension parallel to the yarns being tested

Raveled or cut: which one to use

When a woven strip is cut to width, the yarns along each cut edge are severed. Under load they pull out of the weave and carry little, so a cut woven strip reads low. Raveling avoids this: whole yarns are pulled from both edges until the exact width is left, so every load-bearing yarn runs continuously from jaw to jaw. Cut strips are for fabrics that cannot be raveled (nonwovens, felts, dipped or coated fabrics) and are not suitable for fabrics that ravel.

Raveled strips are not recommended when the width holds fewer than 20 yarns. If a 25 mm strip cannot hold 20 yarns, use the 50 mm (2R) strip and report the result as measured. Do not halve a 2R result to put it on a 25 mm basis. By agreement, a strip may hold fewer than 20 yarns or be raveled to a fixed yarn count; if the count is below 20, report it.

How to prepare a raveled strip

  • Cut the strip to its cut width, long axis parallel to the yarns under test, and count the yarns across it with a pick glass.

  • With a pin or needle, pull yarns from both long edges, taking roughly equal numbers from each side so the strip stays on its original centreline.

  • Stop at 25 mm (or 50 mm) and check the width with a rule at several points along the length.

  • Leave the short fringe of crossing yarns at each edge; it carries no load. Handle the strip by its ends and do not stretch it.

Specimen length: the 95 + 2W rule

A note in the standard gives a minimum length of L = 95 + 2W in millimetres, where W is the jaw-face length in the load direction. The 95 mm is the 75 mm gauge plus at least 10 mm of fabric beyond each clamp. In inch-pound units the rule is L = 4 + 2W.

  • Jaw faces 25 mm (1 in) long: 95 + 50 = 145 mm, so the 150 mm (6 in) minimum governs

  • Jaw faces 50 mm (2 in) long: 95 + 100 = 195 mm, so cut the strips at least 195 mm (about 8 in) long

Where to take specimens

Space specimens along a diagonal of the laboratory sample so no two specimens for the same direction share the same yarns, and stay at least one-tenth of the fabric width away from each selvage. Ribbons and narrow fabrics 50 mm (2 in) wide or less are usually tested at full width.

Grips and jaw faces for D5035

A strip test clamps the full width of the specimen, so each jaw face must be wider than the strip. The standard calls for smooth, flat faces of metal or another agreed surface, parallel to each other and with matching centres. Each face must be at least 10 mm (0.5 in) wider than the specimen and at least 25 mm (1 in) long in the direction of load.

  • 1R and 1C (25 mm strips): faces at least 35 mm wide (1.5 in in inch-pound units)

  • 2R and 2C (50 mm strips): faces at least 60 mm wide (2.5 in in inch-pound units)

  • All strip types: faces at least 25 mm (1 in) long along the load

  • Use the same face size for every specimen in a set and record it in the report

In practice, pneumatic grips are the most common choice for fabric. Clamping force stays constant as the fabric thins under load, and every one of the 13 specimens per condition is gripped at the same air pressure. For lower-volume labs, manual vise grips with wide, flat faces work well if they are tightened the same way each time. Quick-change jaw inserts let you swap smooth or rubber-coated faces without removing the grip body.

Face surface

Smooth metal faces are the standard's starting point. If specimens slip, or more than 25 % break at the jaws, the standard allows padding the jaws, coating the fabric under the jaw area or changing the face, provided the change is reported. In our experience, rubber-coated faces solve most slippage on slick synthetics and coated fabrics, while serrated faces made for plastics and metals tend to cut fabric unless padded.

Carbon-paper check and slippage marks

To confirm even clamping, close the jaws on a sandwich of white tissue, two carbon papers back to back, and white paper. The imprint should be complete and even across the whole face; a blank corner points to faces that are not parallel or a worn insert. During testing, mark each specimen at the inner jaw edges. If a mark has moved after the break, the specimen slipped: raise the air pressure or tighten the clamps, and if that causes jaw breaks, use cushions or tabs instead.

High-strength fabrics: pin wrap

For fabrics above about 200 N/cm, flat jaws either slip or cut the fabric at the jaw line. The standard describes an alternative: two stainless-steel pins 10 mm (3/8 in) in diameter and 125 mm (5 in) long. The specimen is wrapped around the pins between the jaws, so friction around the pins takes up much of the load before it reaches the clamp; pad the pins if needed. Clamps that are too tight cause front-jaw breaks, and clamps that are too loose let the fabric slip. Contact us to discuss a pin or wrap-style fixture for heavy industrial fabrics.

Testing machine, load cell and speed

The tester must conform to ASTM D76 and can be CRE, CRL or CRT. CRE is preferred, and almost every modern electromechanical universal testing machine is a CRE machine. Results from different machine types are not comparable. When they must be compared, run at a constant time-to-break of 20 ± 3 s, which is also the referee method in a dispute unless the parties agree otherwise.

What 300 mm/min means for the specimen

At 300 mm/min on a 75 mm gauge, the nominal strain rate is 400 % per minute. A fabric that breaks at 20 % elongation reaches 15 mm of extension in about 3 seconds. Most CRE tests are over in 3 to 5 seconds, against about 20 seconds for CRT. Many fibres are rate-sensitive, which is one reason CRE and CRT results differ.

Because the test is so short, the data rate matters. This is our advice, not a requirement of the standard: sample at least 50 to 100 points per second so the software captures the true peak and a clean start of the force-extension curve.

Choosing the load cell

Pick a force range so that every break falls between 10 % and 90 % of full scale. Most woven apparel and light industrial fabrics typically break between about 200 N and 1.5 kN (45 to 340 lbf) as 25 mm strips. Heavy industrial fabrics may need a 5 to 10 kN range. A benchtop frame in the 2.5 to 10 kN class covers most textile labs; very light fabrics can be tested on a smaller tensile tester. Check that the load cell's accuracy class still holds at the low end of the range you use.

Gauge length and system check

Set the distance between the clamping lines to 75 ± 1 mm (3 ± 0.05 in) with a gauge block and zero the extension there, so elongation is calculated from clamp separation. Run the standard-fabric system check in Annex A1 at least weekly and after any change to the load system or clamps, and keep the results on a control chart so drift shows up early.

Sampling, conditioning and wet testing

Lot and laboratory samples

For the lot sample, take every roll or piece when there are 1 to 3, four from 4 to 24, five from 25 to 50, and 10 % (maximum 10) above 50. From each one, take a laboratory sample the full width of the fabric and 1 m (1 yd) long along the selvage. From each laboratory sample, cut 5 warp (machine-direction) and 8 filling (cross-direction) specimens for each condition you test: conditioned, wet or both. Filling needs more specimens because filling results vary more.

Conditioning

If the fabric holds more moisture than it would at equilibrium, precondition it as described in ASTM D1776. Then condition it in the standard atmosphere for testing textiles in D1776, nominally 21 °C (70 °F) and 65 % relative humidity. The tolerances on that atmosphere were changed in recent editions of D1776, so take them from your current copy rather than from older web pages. A specimen is at equilibrium when its mass changes by no more than 0.1 % between weighings at least 2 h apart.

Routine minimum conditioning times in the standard are 8 h for wool, other animal fibres and viscose; 6 h for cotton; 4 h for acetate; and 2 h for fibres with a regain under 5 % at 65 % RH. Blends take the longest time of any component.

Wet testing

  • Soak specimens in room-temperature water until fully wet, routinely for 1 h, with up to 0.05 % nonionic wetting agent. In a dispute, show that a longer soak no longer changes the strength.

  • Finish each test within 2 minutes of taking the specimen out of the water.

  • For paired results, cut double-length specimens and cut them in half; test one half conditioned and the other wet, so both results come from the same yarns.

  • If the unsized wet strength is needed, remove sizing first as described in ASTM D629, and report how it was done.

Step-by-step ASTM D5035 procedure

  • Fit faces at least 10 mm wider than the strip and at least 25 mm long; set the clamp separation to 75 ± 1 mm.

  • Select a load range that places all breaks between 10 % and 90 % of full scale, and set the speed to 300 ± 10 mm/min (or the CRT rate for a 20 ± 3 s break).

  • Centre the strip in the upper jaw with its long axis parallel to the direction of load, and close the jaw.

  • If elongation is measured, hang the 170 g (6 oz) auxiliary clamp, which has 100 mm (4 in) wide anvils, on the strip below the lower jaw. Pretension must not exceed 0.5 % of full-scale force.

  • Close the lower jaw with the strip straight and the tension even across the full clamped width, then remove the auxiliary clamp.

  • Mark the strip at the inner edge of each jaw so slippage can be detected.

  • Zero the extension and start the test. Run to rupture.

  • Record the maximum force and the extension at maximum force. Note where the specimen broke and whether it slipped.

  • Keep warp and filling results separate, apply the jaw-break rules below, and replace any discarded specimen from the same laboratory sample.

Note: Pretension is allowed in D5035. A slack strip adds a false toe to the curve and inflates elongation; the limit is 0.5 % of full-scale force.

Calculations and a worked example

Breaking force is the average of the maximum force of all acceptable specimens, calculated separately for each laboratory sample, direction and condition. It is reported as a force (N or lbf) for the strip width tested, not as a stress.

Apparent elongation (%) = (increase in length from the start of the force-extension curve to the breaking force ÷ 75 mm) × 100. It is called apparent because the fabric pulls slightly out of the jaws during the test, so the real deforming length is a little longer than 75 mm. Average it over the acceptable specimens.

Worked example: 1R-E, warp direction

  • Maximum forces of five acceptable specimens: 412, 398, 425, 405 and 420 N

  • Sum: 412 + 398 + 425 + 405 + 420 = 2,060 N

  • Average breaking force: 2,060 ÷ 5 = 412 N (92.6 lbf) for a 25 mm strip

  • Average extension at breaking force: 16.5 mm

  • Apparent elongation: 16.5 ÷ 75 × 100 = 22.0 %

  • Time to break: 16.5 mm at 300 mm/min (5 mm/s) is about 3.3 s

  • Force per width (a derived value only): 412 N ÷ 2.5 cm = about 165 N/cm, below the 200 N/cm level where pins are suggested. A 2R result is never halved to a 25 mm basis.

Keep or discard? A jaw-break check

Suppose a sixth warp strip broke 3 mm from the lower jaw at 190 N. Half the average of the other breaks is 412 ÷ 2 = 206 N. Because 190 N is below 206 N and the break is within 5 mm of the jaw, discard it and test a replacement. If a different strip had broken 4 mm from the jaw at 380 N, it would be kept: it is near the jaw, but it is well above 50 % of the average.

Note: Report the code (here 1R-E), the number of specimens per direction, the force range, the pretension, the jaw-face size and any padding or jaw changes along with the averages.

Jaw breaks, slippage and common errors

The jaw-break rules

  • Discard and retest specimens that slip in the jaws, that break at or in the jaws, or that fall well below the average of the set.

  • A break within 5 mm (0.25 in) of a jaw is discarded if its value is below 50 % of the average of the other breaks. Otherwise it is kept.

  • Keep every other break unless the specimen is known to be faulty.

  • If specimens slip, or more than 25 % break within 5 mm of a jaw edge, pad the jaws, coat the fabric under the jaw area, or change the jaw face, and report what was done.

Common errors we see

  • Too few filling specimens. The standard asks for 8 filling, not 5.

  • Faces too narrow. A 25 mm face on a 25 mm strip does not meet the 10 mm-wider rule and lets the edges creep.

  • Uneven raveling. Pulling all the yarns from one side, or leaving damaged edge yarns, lowers results and adds scatter.

  • Mixing warp and filling in one average, or mixing conditioned and wet results.

  • Slow wet tests. A specimen that sits for 5 minutes after removal from the water is no longer fully wet.

  • Old conditioning tolerances copied from older web pages instead of the current D1776.

Precision: how big a difference is real?

The precision statement in D5035 is based on a 1991 interlaboratory study of three fabrics (a cotton filter fabric, a plain weave and a sateen), tested in three labs by two operators each. Single-operator coefficients of variation were roughly 2.5 to 6 %. For averages of five specimens at the 95 % level, the critical differences were roughly 3 to 8 % within one operator and up to about 14 % between laboratories. No bias is known.

So a 5 % difference between two lots tested by one operator may be real, while a 10 % gap between your lab and a customer's may not be. Only three labs took part, so treat the between-lab figures with caution and check the exact table values in your current edition.

D5035 vs the D5034 grab test vs ISO 13934-1

D5035 and ASTM D5034 are companion standards from the same subcommittee. They share the 75 mm gauge, the 300 mm/min speed, the 5 warp + 8 filling rule, the conditioning and the jaw-break rules. The difference is how the fabric is gripped.

  • D5035 strip: 25 or 50 mm wide, raveled or cut; the full width is gripped in faces at least 10 mm wider; the result is the breaking force of that defined width

  • D5034 grab: 100 mm (4 in) wide, never raveled; only the centre 25 mm is gripped; the result is an effective strength that includes help from the unclamped yarns

Grab results are higher than strip results, not lower. In ASTM's own 1991 interlaboratory study, which used the same three fabrics for both precision statements, the grab averages were about 1.2 to 1.3 times the strip averages. The extra force comes from yarn assistance: the unclamped yarns next to the gripped band share the load. Because that effect depends on the weave, there is no conversion factor between grab and strip results. Use the method your material specification names.

ISO 13934-1

ISO 13934-1 is the international strip method, but it is not equivalent to D5035. It typically uses a 50 mm strip, a 200 mm gauge length and 100 mm/min, with conditioning to ISO 139 and a pretension set by fabric mass. That is a longer gauge and a much slower speed than D5035, so the results are not interchangeable. Check the current ISO edition for its exact values. Nonwovens tested to ISO usually follow ISO 9073-3 instead.

Related ASTM methods

  • ASTM D5034: grab and modified grab tests for fabrics

  • ASTM D4632: grab test for geotextiles

  • ASTM D4595: wide-width strip test for geotextiles, 200 mm wide

  • ASTM D751: coated fabrics, with their own grab and cut-strip methods

  • ASTM D6775: breaking strength of webbing

  • ASTM D2261 and ASTM D5587: tongue and trapezoid tear

  • ASTM D4964: tension and elongation of elastic fabrics, which D5035 does not cover

  • ASTM D76 (textile testing machines), D1776 (conditioning) and D629 (desizing)

D5035 test equipment from Universal Grip

Universal Grip Company makes tensile grips and fixtures and distributes Galdabini universal testing machines. A D5035 set-up needs a CRE frame, a load cell sized for your fabrics, and grips with faces wide enough for your strip.

Most textile labs run D5035 and D5034 on the same frame, changing only the jaw faces. If you also run ASTM D4632 on geotextiles or ASTM D2261 tongue tear, tell us; a grip body with interchangeable faces can often cover several methods.

Contact us with your fabric types, strip width, expected break force and the standards you need to meet, and we will quote a complete D5035 system or grips for your existing machine.

ASTM D5035 FAQ

What is ASTM D5035?

ASTM D5035 is the strip tensile test for textile fabrics. A 25 or 50 mm wide strip is gripped across its full width with 75 mm between the jaws and pulled at 300 mm/min until it breaks. The test reports the average breaking force for that strip width and the apparent elongation at break. The current edition is D5035-11, reapproved in 2024.

What is the difference between a raveled strip and a cut strip?

A raveled strip (1R or 2R) is cut wider than needed, then yarns are pulled from both long edges until exactly 25 or 50 mm remains, so no cut yarn ends carry load. It is used for woven fabrics. A cut strip (1C or 2C) is cut straight to 25 or 50 ± 1 mm and is used for nonwovens, felts and coated fabrics that cannot be raveled.

What specimen size does ASTM D5035 use?

Strips are 25 mm (1 in) or 50 mm (2 in) wide and at least 150 mm (6 in) long, or 95 mm plus twice the jaw-face length if that is longer. Raveled strips are cut 35 mm wide, or 25 mm plus 20 yarns, before raveling to 25 mm; 2R strips are cut 65 mm wide, or 50 mm plus 20 yarns, before raveling to 50 mm.

What test speed and gauge length does D5035 use?

The gauge length, measured between the clamps, is 75 ± 1 mm (3 ± 0.05 in). On a constant-rate-of-extension machine the speed is 300 ± 10 mm/min (12 ± 0.5 in/min). The alternative is a constant time-to-break machine set so specimens break in 20 ± 3 seconds, which is also the referee method when results are disputed.

How many specimens does ASTM D5035 require?

For each laboratory sample and each condition tested, the standard calls for 5 specimens in the warp (machine) direction and 8 in the filling (cross) direction. More filling specimens are needed because filling results vary more. Testing five or three per direction does not meet the method. Cut two or three extras when setting a constant time-to-break rate.

What jaw faces are needed for the strip test?

The faces must be smooth, flat and parallel, at least 10 mm (0.5 in) wider than the specimen and at least 25 mm (1 in) long in the load direction. That means faces at least 35 mm wide for 25 mm strips and at least 60 mm wide for 50 mm strips. Use the same face size for every specimen and record it in the report.

How is apparent elongation calculated in D5035?

Apparent elongation is the increase in length from the start of the force-extension curve to the breaking force, divided by the 75 mm gauge length and multiplied by 100. For example, an extension of 16.5 mm at the breaking force gives 16.5 ÷ 75 × 100 = 22.0 %. It is called apparent because the fabric pulls slightly out of the jaws.

What counts as a jaw break and when can it be discarded?

A break within 5 mm (0.25 in) of a jaw is discarded if its value is below 50 % of the average of the other breaks; otherwise it is kept. If specimens slip, or more than 25 % break within 5 mm of a jaw, pad the jaws, coat the fabric under the jaw area or change the faces, and state the change in the report.

Strip test or grab test: which should I use?

Use the method your material specification names. The D5035 strip test grips the full width, so it measures the strength of a defined width of fabric. The D5034 grab test grips only the centre 25 mm of a 100 mm specimen, so neighbouring yarns help and results are higher, about 1.2 to 1.3 times strip values in ASTM's study. There is no conversion factor.

Is ASTM D5035 the same as ISO 13934-1?

No. Both are strip tests, but ISO 13934-1 typically uses a 50 mm strip, a 200 mm gauge length and 100 mm/min with ISO 139 conditioning, while D5035 uses 25 or 50 mm strips, a 75 mm gauge and 300 mm/min. The different gauge and speed change the results, so the two cannot be substituted. Check the current ISO edition for exact values.

Can ASTM D5035 be used for knitted or stretch fabrics?

It is not recommended for knitted fabrics or for any fabric with more than 11 % stretch, because the strip narrows and extends too much for a meaningful result. Elastic fabrics have methods written for them, such as ASTM D4964 for tension and elongation of elastic fabrics; check that its scope fits your product. Glass fabrics are covered by D579 and D580.

How do I run a wet strength test to D5035?

Soak specimens in room-temperature water until fully wet, routinely for 1 hour, with up to 0.05 % nonionic wetting agent if needed. Complete each test within 2 minutes of removing the specimen from the water. For paired results, cut double-length specimens, test one half conditioned and the other wet, and report both separately.

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