Fiber Materials and Musical Perception: Exploring Tactile Transmission of Sound

Jing Wen, Siyu Wang, Zhao Chen

Article
2025 / Volume 8 / Pages 1231-1248
Received 23 April 2025; Accepted 28 July 2025; Published 31 December 2025
https://doi.org/10.31881/TLR.2025.1231

Abstract
Objective: This study aims to systematically evaluate the performance of functional textile materials as vibrotactile feedback media. By characterizing the vibration transmission properties of various fabrics, we provide a materials science basis for developing novel wearable devices for music perception among hearing-impaired individuals. Methods: The experiment utilized three representative engineering textiles: polyester, nylon, and carbon fiber woven fabrics. Piezoelectric sensing technology was employed to convert audio signals into mechanical vibrations. Accelerometers were used to precisely measure the vibration conduction efficiency of each fabric, while 240 participants were recruited to assess tactile recognition rates. The research focused on the influence of different fiber raw materials and fabric structures (e.g., plain, twill) on vibration transmission performance. Results: The results demonstrate that the carbon fiber plain weave fabric exhibited optimal vibration conduction efficiency (4.85 m/s² in the low-frequency range <250 Hz), significantly outperforming the nylon and polyester fabrics. Tactile feedback based on this high-performance textile yielded a recognition rate of 92% for low-frequency music. Furthermore, the rhythm perception accuracy of the hearing-impaired group improved to 85%, proving the distinct advantage of advanced textile materials in the high-fidelity transmission of low-frequency vibrations. Conclusion: This research validates that textile-based substrates can serve as effective media for tactile music transmission. By virtue of its superior mechanical vibration transmission, carbon fiber fabric provides critical material science data and design parameters for the development of “smart textiles” and wearable sensing devices tailored for specific populations. This work shows broad application prospects in the interdisciplinary field of “textile engineering” and assistive rehabilitation technology.

Keywords
smart textiles, vibration transmission, vibrotactile feedback, carbon fiber fabric, fabric structure