05-23-2017, 04:19 AM
It is a good question, which is only apparently simple. 
Following the BESS concept, sharpness is measured by a force necessary to cut a test media, however stress at the blade’s edge is of crucial importance.
At an initial stage the edge elastically deflects the surface of the test media. Then, at a critical contact stress, the edge penetrates the surface of the test media. The thinner the edge, the greater the stress on the test media surface. From this point of view the determining parameter is the width of the edge (diameter of the apex).
In my opinion, the bevel angle of the blade affects the sharpness indirectly, because with a 15° bevel angle it is more probable that honing will produce a narrower edge than for 20° bevel angle.
Following the BESS concept, sharpness is measured by a force necessary to cut a test media, however stress at the blade’s edge is of crucial importance.
At an initial stage the edge elastically deflects the surface of the test media. Then, at a critical contact stress, the edge penetrates the surface of the test media. The thinner the edge, the greater the stress on the test media surface. From this point of view the determining parameter is the width of the edge (diameter of the apex).
In my opinion, the bevel angle of the blade affects the sharpness indirectly, because with a 15° bevel angle it is more probable that honing will produce a narrower edge than for 20° bevel angle.