<p>In the weaving process, the contact behavior influenced by the deformations of the tow cross-section during passing through guild rollers determines its frictional behavior. Based on this fact, this paper tested the tow/roller frictional behavior and simulated the cross-sectional deformation behavior of a tow stretching around a curved surface. Furthermore, a calculation model of the contact area of the tow/roller was proposed by combining the contact fibers amount obtained from simulation analysis and the Hertz contact theory. Results real that the relationship between the friction force of tow/roller and the tension follows a power-law model. Due to the migration behavior of the inner fiber, the tow cross-section shows a flattening deformation tendency under its stretching around a curved surface, which increases the number of contact fibers. The validity of the contact area calculation method was verified by comparing the friction force observed from tests and that predicted by multiplying the contact area and the interfacial shear strength.</p>