Of the seven base units of the international system of units, only the kilogram is still defined in terms of a material artifact. One of the experimental approaches opening the way to a new definition of the kilogram is the watt balance. To improve the performance of the NPL watt balance, we need to quantify and reduce hysteresis effects in the balance knives. In this paper, we discuss the mechanical characteristics of the knife edges used in the NPL watt balance. The hysteresis mechanism is analyzed using the finite element method. It is found that the cause of hysteresis is not normal stress but shear, and the deformation of the flat, rather than the knife, is an important factor in the hysteresis mechanism. The study presented here, using finite element analysis, suggests that parameters such as material property, tip radius and knife straightness can be more important than others, such as friction coefficient, tip angle, etc.
