Investigation of vibration transmissibility from chainsaw handle to wrist and arm of operator

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Abstract

Hand-arm vibration can cause vascular, neurological and musculoskeletal disorders, collectively named as hand-arm vibration syndrome. The chainsaw is a portable machine that exposes own operators to high levels of hand-arm vibrations. This research focuses on vibration transmissibility from chainsaw handle to wrist and arm of operator. The vibration acceleration signals necessary for evaluation were obtained in an experiment using a Stihl-MS230 chainsaw in three positions (the front handle of chain saw, the wrist and arm of operator), in lateral, longitudinal, and vertical directions. Tests were performed at three levels of engine speed (2800, 10000, and 13300 RPM). The results indicated that the effects of speed, axis, and the interaction between them on the RMS were significant at 1% level. The vibrations were damped during transfer process from handle to hand and arm by organs of operator body. Vibrations in high speeds were damped better than those for low speeds. The maximum value of vibration transmissibility from handle to wrist occurred in engine speed of 2800 RPM.

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