Uses of Blades
– Knives are used for slicing, chopping, and piercing during food preparation.
– Blades are used in combat to slash, puncture, and disable or kill adversaries.
– Blades can be thrown or propelled in combat.
– Blades are used for scraping surfaces, such as in ink erasers or construction equipment.
– Ground-working implements, like graders, are also referred to as blades.
Physics of Blades
– Blades have two faces that meet at an edge, which is rounded to some degree.
– Force is applied to the blade, either from the handle or pressing on the back.
– The concentration of force onto the small edge area increases the pressure exerted by the blade.
– Blades cut through materials by breaking the bonds between molecules, crystals, fibers, etc.
– Blades need to be strong enough to resist breaking before the material gives way.
Geometry of Blades
– The angle at which the faces of a blade meet affects its sharpness and strength.
– Thicker blades are heavier, stronger, and stiffer, while thinner blades are more flexible.
– Different blade shapes are suited for specific tasks, such as filleting, carving, or piercing.
– Curved edges allow for easier drawing against opponents, while straight edges are less versatile.
– Serrated edges concentrate force onto the tips of the serrations and allow for cutting soft or fibrous materials.
Materials of Blades
– Blades are typically made from materials harder than what they are intended to cut.
– Insufficiently hard blades will be unable to cut or wear away quickly.
– Blades must also be tough enough to resist impact, with a balance between hardness and toughness.
– Steel blades can be heat-treated to affect their hardness and toughness.
– Non-metal materials like wood, bone, and stone have been historically used for tool and weapon blades.
Non-metal Blades
– Wood, bone, and stone have been used for tool and weapon blades in prehistoric and less technologically advanced cultures.
– Most woods are poor at holding edges.
– Non-metal blades have limitations in terms of sharpness and durability.
– Non-metals like ceramic can be brittle and easily shatter.
– Differential hardening can be used to create a blade with a sharp edge and a tough body. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blade
A blade is the portion of a tool, weapon, or machine with an edge that is designed to puncture, chop, slice or scrape surfaces or materials. Blades are typically made from materials that are harder than those they are to be used on. Historically, humans have made blades from flaking stones such as flint or obsidian, and from various metal such as copper, bronze, and iron. Modern blades are often made of steel or ceramic. Blades are one of humanity's oldest tools, and continue to be used for combat, food preparation, and other purposes.
Blades work by concentrating force on the cutting edge. Certain blades, such as those used on bread knives or saws, are serrated, further concentrating force on the point of each tooth.
