Cutter forces have an indispensable place in mechanical excavation, especially selection of excavating machine. During mechanical excavation, three-dimensional forces occur on the cutter. These are cutting force or rolling force (FC and FR), normal force (FN) and sideway force (FS). Cutting force and normal force is very important variables such that torque and thrust capacity of mechanical excavator is determined via these variables in design stage. Cutter forces can be calculated or measured practically or theoretically. In laboratory rock cutting tests, cutter forces occurring on index or real cutters can be determined practically. These rock cutting tests are, full scale rock cutting test and small scale rock cutting test. Cutter forces are found theoretically by cutting theories developed by some researchers. Best way of determining cutter forces is laboratory rock cutting tests but they could be found in a few research centers around the world. So researchers are searching alternative ways of determining cutter forces.
In this study, six different rock samples are conducted to laboratory tests for determination of physical and mechanical characteristics. During this experimental period, uniaxial compressive strength, Schmidt hammer rebound value, uniaxial tensile strength, unit weight and apparent porosity parameters are determined. As well, same rock samples are conducted to small scale rock cutting test and cutting force and normal force is measured during cutting test. Data which are obtained from these tests are analyzed in SPSS program and multivariate linear regression formula are developed for cutting force (FC) and normal force (FN) both. These multivariate formula include three parameters which are uniaxial compressive strength, Schmidt hammer rebound value and apparent porosity. Other parameters (uniaxial tensile strength and unit weight) were not entered through regression. Multivariate linear formulas were tested via ANOVA test and passed this test.
