Development of a functional test device capable of automatically performing main carpet performance tests

The quality of carpet is evaluated according to their resistance to texture deformation. The most important factors affecting the texture deformation of carpet are static loads causing the compression of carpet pile yarns. There are two types of tests to determine the compressibility and resilience performance of carpets namely; thickness loss after prolonged heavy static loading and thickness loss after brief moderate static loading. Today, for these tests, thickness measurement device and static loading apparatus are used which are controlled manually. The present state has disadvantages of using different apparatus which increase the investment costs, performing of tests manually which cause personal faults and inability of storing test data in digital environment. Today, it is a need to provide these time consuming and high labor tests automatically with a solo test device. In this study, three different designs of a new prototype test device were made, studied and compared. Among them, the most appropriate one according to design criteria was selected. The newly designed test device is capable of performing carpet thickness measurement, brief moderate static loading and prolonged heavy static loading tests automatically. Finally, verification of the newly designed test device was demonstrated by measuring the accuracy of thickness measurement. For this aim a series of statistical analyses were done at 95% confidence interval. Consequently, the newly designed test device verified as providing repeatable and reproduceable carpet thickness measurements.