Thermal analysis of e-textile structures using full-factorial experimental design method

Abstract

e-Textiles are structures that have properties such as sensing, actuating, communicating, and generating/storing power. Since e-textile structures may be in contact with skin, it is essential to have low temperatures when they are functioning. In this article, temperatures obtained on the e-textile structures were analyzed by taking into account weave type, linear resistance of conductive yarns, base yarn type, and voltage values using full-factorial experimental design method. e-Textile structures were designed using different conductive yarns with different linear resistance values in different weave-type configurations. Thermal analysis was carried out under different voltage values to observe temperature variations over the conductive yarns positioned in the fabric structure. It was found that linear resistance of conductive yarns and its interaction with voltage values considerably affect the temperature of the e-textile structures, and the temperature observed over the conductive yarns is directly proportional to the linear resistance of conductive yarns. Additionally, it was observed that plain fabric samples reach lower temperatures than twill and sateen fabric samples.