Yarnstrength

Tensile Strength Formula from M. Zhang et al. (2004)

The formula for the tensile strength <math>\sigma_y</math> of the yarn relative to the tensile strength <math>\sigma_f</math> of the fiber given in M. Zhang et al. (2004) is:

<math>\sigma_y/\sigma_f = \cos^2 \alpha (1 - k/\sin\alpha)</math>,

with

<math>k=\sqrt(dQ/\mu)/3L</math>,

where <math>\alpha</math> is the tilt of the fibers to the yarn axis, d the fiber diameter, Q the 'migration length', that is the length scale on which a fiber goes from the yarn's surface to the interior, L is the length of the fibers, and <math>\mu</math> the friction coefficient between the fibers.

If we enter the following values:

Quantity	Value
alpha	30deg
d	1nm
Q	30micron
mu	0.13
L	30micron

,

we get <math>\sigma_y/\sigma_f=0.75</math>. For <math>\sigma_f=150{\rm GPa}</math>, the yarns would be 112GPa strong, strong enough for the SE! If you read more closely the M. Zhang et al. (2004) paper, you'll see that the <math>\cos^2</math>-term in the formula is due to the force component supported by the fibers in the direction of the yarn. The second term in brackets is supposed to represent the transmission of forces between the fibers.