Textiles and Light Industrial Science and Technology (TLIST) Volume 3, 2014

DOI: 10.14355/tlist.2014.0301.01

http://www.tlist-journal.org

Analysis of Computed Diffraction Pattern

Diagram for Measuring Yarn Twist Angle
Oleg V. Kofnov1, Pavel G. Shlyakhtenko2
Department of Mechanical Technology, St. Petersburg State University of Technology and Design,
18 Bolshaya Morskaya St., St. Petersburg, Russia
1

kofnov@mail.ru; 2pavelshl2012@yandex.ru

Received 2nd July 2013; Revised 26th July 2013; Accepted 24th August 2013; Published 13th January 2014
2014 Science and Engineering Publishing Company
Abstract
In this article a method measuring the twist angle of textile
yarn is described in which the intensity diagram of a yarn
diffraction pattern is utilized that can be achieved by
projecting a parallel beam of monochromatic coherent light
onto a yarn surface or computed through a two-dimensional
discrete fast Fourier transform of a source digital yarn image.
The orientation of this diagram provides the measurement of
the twist angle of yarn. Examples of calculating twist angles
for different yarns that confirm this method are available in
this paper.

twist = tan/d,

(1)

where d is the yarn diameter.

There are methods which can determine yarn twist by
measuring . For instance, an observer can measure
using a microscope [Jewel (2009)], but this method is
extremely subjective. A fully automatic method is
proposed when a yarn digital image taken through a
microscope is processed by a special computer
programme which draws the diffraction pattern and is
analysed using the intensity distribution diagram.

Keywords

Yarn Images; Yarn Twist; Textile Quality; Surface Digital Images;

Fast Fourier Transform; Diffraction Pattern

Introduction
Shlyakhtenko (2004) claimed that geometrical
parameters of elements of a periodical structure in
textile materials can be measured by analysing the
diffraction patterns which are produced after
projecting the textile materials with a laser. This
analysis can be applied to twisted yarn [Shlyakhtenko
(2001)]. Because the Fraunhofer diffraction can be
calculated using a two-dimensional discrete fast
Fourier transform, the diffraction pattern digital image
can be created using the digital image of yarn.
The yarn twist is the number of turns per unit of
length (meter or inch). According to [Wang (2000)], the
yarn twist is a very important parameter which
determines yarn strength and fabric softness. There
are two common methods used to measure twist:

straightened fibre method;

untwist/retwist method.

Dependence can be ascertained between the twist

angle and the yarn twist (see Fig. 1):

FIG. 1 THE TWIST ANGLE AND THE DIAMETER d

The Method
The scheme of the diagram construction is shown in
Fig. 2. The main diffraction maximum is in the center
of the calculated diffraction pattern image. OX and OY
are axes in the Cortesian coordinate system. We draw
the ring with the inner radius R1, the external radius R2
and the center O coinciding with the center of the
diffraction pattern image. Only points within this ring
are examined.

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Textiles and Light Industrial Science and Technology (TLIST) Volume 3, 2014

R2

R1

X
Iav()

a
FIG. 2 THE SCHEME OF THE DIAGRAM CONSTRUCTION

The sector of the ring with the angle is selected. The

angle between the bisector of the angle and the axis
OX is . The sector has a square S.
Then the average intensity in this sector can be calculated
I av =

pix

(2)

where pix is the luminous power of every point inside

the sector. When processing the diffraction pattern
digital image which consists of discrete points (pixels)
the method GetPixel() can be used to determine pixel
color intensities and then pix.
If the calculation Iav is repeated by formula (2) for
from 0 to 2 with a step and constant S a set of
points is obtained. For every value of a point is put
on the diagram where Iav( ) represents the distance
from the center O to this point; then these points are
connected by a smooth curve and the intensity
distribution diagram is obtained in polar coordinates.
The angle has a constant value in calculations and
can be set as

requirement of the algorithm used in our program.

Therefore, we repeat the process of moving the sector
with the step and calculate an average intensity for
each point. Some pixels from the previous step take
part in the calculations for the current step which
smooths the dependence.
The finished diagram is shown in Fig. 2b. This
diagram is symmetric around the center of the image.
The diagram is stretched in the direction of maximum
light dispersion of yarn turns. We can draw the line
through the central point and the peak of the diagram.
Conducting a series of experiments, it is discovered
that the angle between this line and the axis OX is
equal to the twist angle of the observable yarn.
Results of Method Checking
Simple Mathematical Models of Yarn
To verify our method we have developed an
additional application which draws simple models of
twisted yarn with defined angles .

(3)

The results of these angle calculations are shown in Fig. 3.

where N is positive and even. The diagram should

include the whole ring and be closed.

Ia) the model of S-twisted yarn with the even number

of singles and the defined twist angle 74.8;

An angle cannot be defined infinitely small because

a digital image is discrete. A sector must be of a size
large enough to contain several pixels. But can be
defined as small as required. When developing the
programme, it is determined that is a portion of

Ib) the diffraction pattern of this model with the

intensity diagram; the calculated value of the twist
angle is 74.57;

=2/N,

= /M,

(4)

where M is positive and an integer. This is a

IIa) the model of Z-twisted yarn with the even number

of singles and the defined twist angle 36.36;
IIb) the diffraction pattern of this model with the
intensity diagram; because this is a twist in Z direction

Textiles and Light Industrial Science and Technology (TLIST) Volume 3, 2014

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II

II

III

III

IV

IV

FIG. 3 TWIST ANGLE CALCULATION FOR SIMPLE

MATHEMATICAL MODELS

and the angle between the line through a peak and the
axis X is 145.5 and the twist angle is calculated as
180145.8 = 34.2;
IIIa) the model of S-twisted yarn with the odd number
of singles and the defined twist angle 20.21;
IIIb) the diffraction pattern of this model with the
intensity diagram; the calculated value of the twist
angle is 18;
IVa) the model of Z-twisted yarn with the odd number
of singles and the defined twist angle 84.83;
IVb) the diffraction pattern of this model with the
intensity diagram; the calculated value of the twist
angle is 18095.4 = 84.6.
So it is observed that the accuracy of the twist angle
measurement is higher for highly twisted yarns.
Physical Models of Yarn
In order to further test our method, we applied the
method to find twist angles of yarn models made from

FIG. 4 TWIST ANGLE CALCULATION FOR PHYSICAL MODELS

two or three pieces of metallic wire with the diameter

d = 0.15 mm.
These pieces were twisted like threads in real yarn.
Then models were photographed using a Leica with
magnification. These digital pictures were processed,
diffraction patterns were achieved, and twist angles
were calculated. We also measured twist angles on
yarn source pictures using the GIMP graphics editor
and compared them with the results of the calculations.
The results are shown in Fig. 4.
Ia) the model made of two pieces of wire twisted in S
direction with the twist angle approximately 19
(measured by the graphics editor measuring tool);
IIa) the model made of two pieces of wire twisted in Z
direction with the twist angle approximately 20
(measured by the graphics editor measuring tool);
IIb) the diffraction pattern of this model with the
intensity diagram; the calculated value of the twist
angle is 180161 = 19;

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Textiles and Light Industrial Science and Technology (TLIST) Volume 3, 2014

IIIa) the model made of three pieces of wire twisted in

S direction with the twist angle approximately 32
(measured by the graphics editor measuring tool);
IIIb) the diffraction pattern of this model with the
intensity diagram; the calculated value of the twist
angle is 30.6;
IVa) the model made of three pieces of wire twisted in
Z direction with the twist angle approximately 30
(measured by the graphics editor measuring tool);
IVb) the diffraction pattern of this model with the
intensity diagram; the calculated value of the twist
angle is 180153 = 27.

calculate them by applying our method. These results

are presented in Fig. 5.
Ia) the beige yarn of polyester 26.5 tex Z X 2;
Ib) the diffraction pattern of this yarn with the
intensity diagram; the calculated value of the twist
angle is 180169 = 11;
IIa) the blue yarn of Bestex 40 tex Z X 2;
IIb) the diffraction pattern of this yarn with the
intensity diagram; the calculated value of the twist
angle is 180161 = 19;
IIIa) the red yarn of cotton and viscose 39.2 tex S X 3;
IIIb) the diffraction pattern of this yarn with the intensity
diagram; the calculated value of the twist angle is 11;
IVa) the white yarn 96.08 tex S X 3;

IVb) the diffraction pattern of this yarn with the

intensity diagram; the calculated value of the twist
angle is 10.
Conclusions
Thus the computing method is proposed which allows
calculating the yarn twist angle using a computed
diffraction pattern of yarn. This diffraction pattern is
similar to an observed diffraction pattern which
appears if yarn is illuminated by a parallel beam of
monochromatic coherent light. The dependence of the
light intensity Iav on the angle in polar coordinates
can be constructed for this diffraction pattern. This
dependence can be drawn as a diagram. By analysing
this diagram, the yarn twist angle can be calculated.

II

III

We have developed a software application based on

diffraction patterns and intensity diagrams from yarn
digital images and calculated the twist angle; then our
method and application are examined on both models
and real yarns.

IV

REFERENCES

FIG. 5 TWIST ANGLE CALCULATION FOR REAL YARNS

Jewel R. Textile Testing. APH Publishing Corp. New Delhi

2009.
Shlyakhtenko P. G. Features of the diffraction monitoring of

Examples of Real Yarns

the geometrical parameters of knitted hosiery fabric.

Then our method is verified on real textile yarns. We

took photos of yarn using a Leica, computed
diffraction patterns and then built intensity diagrams
using our programme. In this case we did not know
the real values of the twist angles, so we could only

//Journal of Optical Technology - J OPT TECHNOL-ENG

TR , vol. 71, pp. 795-798, 2004.

Shlyakhtenko P. G. Optical method of monitoring the
geometrical parameters of thread, based on a study of
Fraunhofer diffraction at a moving twisted thread.

Textiles and Light Industrial Science and Technology (TLIST) Volume 3, 2014

//Journal of Optical Technology - J OPT TECHNOL-ENG

TR , vol. 68, pp. 738-743, 2001.
Wang X. Yarn Technology and Quality. COURSES IN YARN
TECHNOLOGY. Geelong, Vic.: Deakin University, 2000.
Oleg V. Kofnov Born in Nevinnomyssk
September 7 1972. Graduated from Baltic
State Technical University "Voenmeh" in
1995 and St. Petersburg State University
in 2011. Software Developer.
Since 1996 he worked as a Software
Engineer for commercial companies.
Now he is a Programmer of Skvirel Stroy in St. Petersburg,
Russia. In the same time he is a Postgraduate of the

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Department of Mechanical Technology of St. Petersburg

State University of Technology and Design. He is interested
in textile technology, machine vision, astronomical catalogs
processing, Java and C# programming.
Pavel G. Shlyakhtenko Born in
Leningrad October 17 1941. Graduated
from St. Petersburg (Leningrad) State
University in 1963. Physicist.
He has worked for St. Petersburg State
University of Technology and Design
since 1974. He is a professor of the
Department of physics since 1995.
Prof. Shlyakhtenko published more than 300 papers and got
more than 50 patents of inventions.