This paper reports interdisciplinary
research between conservators and
engineers designed to enhance the
long-term conservation of tapestries
(tapestry-weave hangings) on longterm
display. The aim is to monitor,
measure and document the strain
experienced by different areas of a
tapestry while it is hanging on display.
Initial research has established that
damage can be identified in the early
stages of its inception, i.e., before it is
visible to the naked eye. The paper also
reports initial results of strain data
visualisation that allows curators and
conservators to examine how strain
develops, thereby facilitating
predictions about the changes in the
form or condition of the tapestry.
Strain data visualisation also allows the
strain process to be recorded, thereby
facilitating the effective documentation
of display methods and conservation
interventions. The paper reports the
use of point measurements (using
silica optical fibre sensors) and full-field
monitoring (using 3-D
photogrammetry with digital image
correlation (DIC))
