Assessing the feasibility of monitoring the condition of historic tapestries using engineering techniques

Abstract

The findings of a year-long programme carried out by a multidisciplinary engineering/conservation team are described. A mass-produced textile material that can be used to represent tapestries is identified and mechanical tests are detailed which demonstrate it behaves in a similar way to tapestry. The feasibility of using optical fibre sensors, full-field optical strain measurement techniques and thermography for monitoring tapestry degradation is assessed. The results of preliminary findings are presented and a rationale is developed for in-situ quantitative strain monitoring of tapestries.