This test method is intended for evaluating the resistance of fabrics and other flexible materials to abrasion. An unfettered fabric specimen is driven by an impeller (rotor) along a zigzag course in a generally circular orbit within a cylindrical chamber, so that it repeatedly impinges on the walls and abradant liner of the chamber while at the same time being continually subjected to extremely rapid, high velocity impacts. The specimen is subjected to flexing, rubbing, shock, compression, stretching and other mechanical forces during the test. Abrasion is produced throughout the specimen by rubbing of yarn against yarn, fiber against fiber, surface against surface and surface against abradant.