Development of Predictive Models for the Specific Energy of Circular Diamond Sawblades in the Sawing of Granitic Rocks

This paper presents an experimental study on the sawing of granitic rocks by circular diamond sawblades. The influence of the operating variables and rock properties on the specific energy were initially investigated and analyzed. To determine the most significant operating variables and rock properties influencing the specific energy, statistical analyses were then employed and the models were built for the estimation of specific energy depending on the operating variables and the rock properties. Moreover, the derived models were validated through statistical tests such as the determination coefficient, t-test, F-test, and residuals. The results indicated that the specific energy decreased with the decreasing of peripheral speed and the increasing of traverse speed, cutting depth, and flow rate of cooling fluid, respectively. It was concluded that, rather than the physico-mechanical properties, the mineralogical properties were the dominant rock properties affecting the specific energy. Additionally, the peripheral speed was statistically determined as the most significant operating variable affecting the specific energy. The peripheral speed was followed by the cutting depth, traverse speed, and flow rate of cooling fluid with respect to their level of significance on the specific energy. Furthermore, the model results revealed that the developed models have high potentials as a guidance for practical applications.