Semester of Graduation

Summer 2020

Degree

Master of Science in Industrial Engineering (MSIE)

Department

Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

The overall objective of this research was to compare four types of rivet guns varying by manufacturer and piston material (Tungsten vs. Steel), two rivet gun handle positions (Horizontal and Vertical), and three bucking bars including two with similar dimensions bars made of tungsten and steel, and a Honsa new technology spring dampener and tungsten combined bucking bar based on their impact on hand-arm vibrations and the effect of these vibration levels on muscle fatigue. This objective was covered in three parts. The first part consisted of examining the impact of these factors on riveters’ vibration exposure and muscle fatigue, the second part of studying the impact of these factors on buckers’ vibration exposure and muscle fatigue, and the third part of examining the impact of these tools on the joint vibration exposure of riveters and buckers. The vibration exposure was quantified using the unweighted-frequency acceleration Root Mean Square (RMS), and the muscle fatigue was determined by the percentage Maximum Voluntary Contraction (MVC) of Electromyography and the perceived level of exertion (Borg Scale). A laboratory experimental study involving 10 male participants (5 riveters and 5 buckers) was conducted. Each pair of participants performed all 24 experimental trials (4 rivet guns x 3 bucking bars x 2 rivet gun handle positions) in 2 days. The task consisted of setting at least 5 rivets in 30 seconds. The results show that the use of the different rivet gun types and gun handle positions had an effect on both the riveters and buckers’ vibration exposure and respective major arm muscle fatigue, specifically the brachioradialis muscle for riveters and the palmaris longus muscle for buckers. However, the factor bucking bar type did not seem to have a significant impact on the riveters’ vibration exposure and muscle fatigue. We recommend the use of rivet gun type 4 as it led to 43.27 % less buckers and riveters’ joint vibration exposure compared to gun types 1 and 2, 56.7 % less riveters’ brachioradialis muscle fatigue and 52.1% less buckers’ palmaris longus muscle fatigue compared to gun type 3. We also recommend the use of the spring dampener and tungsten combined bucking bar as it led to 24.46 % less buckers and riveters’ joint vibration exposure, 64 % less major arm buckers’ muscle fatigue, and kept the muscle fatigue experienced by the riveters to a minimum compared to the steel and tungsten bucking bars.

Committee Chair

Aghazadeh, Fereydoun

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_theses.5200

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