Engine Tribology

Module code ME 824

Dr Riaz A Mufti
(B.Sc, M.Sc Eng (UK), PhD (UK), CEng (UK), MIMechE (UK), P.E (PEC))

Lecture 3

Surface Topography
 Engine Tribology

TOPICS
A. Surface Topography
B. Terminology
C. Ra Definition
D. Rq Definition
E. 3D Measurement

Dr Riaz A Mufti
Engine Tribology
SURFACE TOPOGRAPHY

Dr Riaz A Mufti
Engine Tribology
SURFACE TOPOGRAPHY

• In manufacturing, any machining process used to finish a component leaves

characteristic marks referred to as the “Surface topography” or surface
texture, which can influence the appearance and performance of the
component in many ways.
• No engineering surface is ideally smooth, even very highly polished
surface. Such surfaces appear rough when viewed at a sufficiently high
magnification with height variations up to ~ 50nm above and below the
mean.
• Surface topography is usually examined using an instrument known as a
profilometer. There are now many different types of profilometer, some use
stylus measurements and other use contactless optical but the principles of
profilometry are best understood by describing the two-dimensional stylus
technique, which is still the most commonly used.
• In the stylus instrument a very finely pointed diamond stylus travels on the
surface to be measured under a very light load.

Dr Riaz A Mufti
Engine Tribology
MEASUREMENT METHODS
Contact Type Instrument

Data Point Spacing (X)

Stylus Movement (Z)

Traverse Direction (X)

Dr Riaz A Mufti
Engine Tribology
SURFACE TOPOGRAPHY

• Its vertical movements are measured with a precision of nanometers and

recorded as function of distance along the surface.
• A machined surface can have different profile components. Traditionally
these components are qualitatively divided into the following types.
• Roughness
• Waviness
• From

• In many Tribological situations the roughness is the component of surface

texture that is the most critical, so it is necessary to have a quantitative
description of roughness.
• Two key parameters widely used in Tribology, Ra and Rq

Dr Riaz A Mufti
Engine Tribology
Terminology

Sample Surface

Roughness, Waviness & Form

Dr Riaz A Mufti
Engine Tribology
Terminology
Roughness refers to irregularities inherent in the production process left by
the machining agent

Roughness

Dr Riaz A Mufti
Engine Tribology
Terminology
Waviness refers to ‘that component of the texture on which roughness is
superimposed’
Waviness

Dr Riaz A Mufti
Engine Tribology
Terminology
From is the general shape of the surface neglecting variations due to
roughness and waviness.
Form

Dr Riaz A Mufti
Engine Tribology
Terminology

Sample Waviness

Roughness

Dr Riaz A Mufti
Engine Tribology
 Ra DEFINITION
• Mathematically, Ra is the arithmetic average value of the profile departure from
the mean line, within a sampling length.
• A method of visualising how Ra is derived is as follows:
• Graph A: A mean line X-X is fitted to the measurement data.
• Graph B: The portions of the profile within the sampling length “lr” and below
the mean line are then inverted and placed above the line.
• Graph C: Ra is the mean height of the profile above the original mean line.

Also known in the past as

Centre Line Average
(CLA) or in the USA,
Arithmetic Average (AA).

Ra

Dr Riaz A Mufti
Engine Tribology
 Rq DEFINITION

• Root Mean Square Deviation of the Profile from the Mean Line.
• Mathematically, Rq is the Square Root of the Mean of all the ‘Z’ Values after they have
been Squared.
• Rq is defined over 1 Sampling Length.

Rq - ISO 4287 - 1997

Dr Riaz A Mufti
Engine Tribology
3D Measurement

Traverse Direction
Y Axis Incremental Movement

The conventional method of performing a 3D measurement on a surface is by using a stylus

instrument with an independent datum in conjunction with a motorised automatic Y axis table upon
which the surface under test is mounted. The Y axis table and instrument are linked via the software
Contact Measurement Method
enabling the Y axis table to be incremented in small discrete steps between each 2D measurement to
build a 3D map of the surface.
Dr Riaz A Mufti
Engine Tribology
3D Measurement Non-Contact Measurement Method

CCD Detector Laser

Y Axis Incremental Movement

Measurement Axis (X)

One method of Non contact 3D measurement is by using a laser based gauge. In this particular instance the gauge
remains static while the component surface, mounted on the motorised table, navigates under the gauge in the
measurement axis.
The main advantages of this type measurement set-up is the ability to measure fragile surfaces without causing
damage. Measurements can be made at faster speeds using a non contact gauge and bi-directionally.
Dr Riaz A Mufti
Engine Tribology
3D Measurement

Cylinder Liner- No Form Removed Cylinder Liner- Form Removed

Dr Riaz A Mufti
Engine Tribology
3D Measurement

Meshed Axonometric View

Viewing 3D Data
Dr Riaz A Mufti
Engine Tribology
Thank you
End of Lecture

Dr Riaz A Mufti
Engine Tribology