Abstract
This research aimed to analyze the mechanical properties and sound characteristics of weft knitted fabrics for establishing database of sound design system for knitted fabrics. The specimens consisted of 27 weft knitted fabrics. Mechanical properties of the knitted fabrics were measured with Kawabata evaluation system (KES). The frictional sounds of specimens were recorded by a sound generator and transformed into sound spectrum by FFT. The level pressure of total sound (LPT), level range ($\Delta$f), and frequency difference ($\Delta$f) were calculated from the sound spectra obtained in the FFT analysis. Zwicker's psychoacoustic parameters such as loudness(Z), sharpness(Z), roughness(Z), and fluctuation strength(Z) were calculated. The weft knitted fabrics have similar values of roughness(Z) and fluctuation strength(Z). Polyester fabrics with low elongation at maximum load (EM) and high coefficient of friction(MIU) showed the loudest and the sharpest frictional sound. The lyocell fabrics with low bending properties (B, 2HB) and thickness showed the most quiet and softest frictional sounds. Bending properties, surface properties, thickness and weight in weft knitted fabrics showed high relationship with the physical and psychoacoustic properties of frictional sound.