Evaluation of kickback energies in abrasive chain saws and cut-off saws: a theoretical and experimental study

Abrasive chain saws and cut-off saws used in construction work are not currently kickback regulated even though fatal kickbacks occur with them. Kickback regulation has been in place for wood chain saws since the 1980's, but it is inadequate for regulating abrasive power saws as they have a different cutting mechanic than wood chain saws. This thesis investigates the different kickback modes analytically and experimentally in order to develop tools for characterizing and predicting them. Simple physics models, numerical integrations, and two test rigs were designed to study them. First the different mechanisms which could cause kickback were considered (kickback modes) and simple physics models were made to describe them. From these, it was found that a pinch based kickback was potentially far more dangerous than a tip-engagement or snag type kickback for abrasive saws.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2019

Author dc:creator

• Yue, Brian(Brain J.)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Alexander H. Slocum.

• Mechanical Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• MIT theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed, downloaded, or printed from this source but further reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/122424

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/122424