Prediction of human psychophysical perception of fabric crispness and coolness hand from rapidly-measurable low-stress mechanical and thermal parameters

This work investigated the possibility of predicting the human psychophysical perception of crispness and coolness hand of men's suit fabrics made from animal fibers (wool, mohair, cashmere and alpaca) from rapidly measurable low-stress mechanical and thermal parameters. Thanks to Fabric Assurance by Simple Testing (FAST) and Alambeta instruments, in about 1 h for sample, it was possible to simply obtain eight parameters that together described low-stress compressional, bending, shearing, and tensile deformations and thermal behavior. Sensory hand evaluation was performed by a panel of eight experts. After assessing the inter-expert concordance, the sensory-instrumental relationship was explored using multiple linear regression and comparing three mathematical models: a linear function, the Weber-Fechner law and the Stevens's power law, with the last two being well-established psychophysical models to translate instrumentally measured fabric properties into corresponding hand parameters.