US EPA

2067938 

Journal Article 

Noise from Circular Stone-Sawing Blades and Theoretical Analysis of Their Flexural Vibration 

Matsuhisa, H; Sato, S 

1986 

1 

Noise Control Engineering Journal
ISSN: 0736-2501 

NIOSH/00166046 

Vol 

3 

95-102 

The noise and vibration generated by circular stone sawing blades were investigated to determine the general characteristics of noise production and to develop a low noise cutting method. Noise characteristics and a theoretical analysis of the flexural vibration were also determined for a damped blade produced by attaching 0.1 millimeter thick annular aluminum plates to the sides of a conventional blade with adhesive. The measured sound pressure level over a 10 to 20000 hertz (Hz) frequency range was 95 to 100 decibels (dB) in the vicinity of the stone sawing machine, about 10dB higher when the blade was in contact with the stone than when idling. Measurements indicated that although the level of the noise increased with the feed rate and the depth of the cut, the noise level actually decreased when the blade was buried deep in the stone, decreasing by about 1dB for every 6 centimeters of depth. The saw blade with the aluminum covered surface produced levels of noise which were approximately 10dB lower, especially in the frequency range over 3000Hz. A peak at 2300Hz, due to the aerodynamic noise caused by the teeth, was not attenuated. Theoretical analysis of the flexural vibration of the blade, taking into account the effect of the rim slots, the contact with the stone and damping, yielded theoretical predictions which were in good agreement with the experimental findings. The authors conclude that deep sawing generates less noise than reciprocal sawing, the use of short rim slots results in less noise than long rim slots because they generate lower level of vibration, and blade damping results in significant reduction of the noise.