Int. J. Mach. Tools Manufact. Vol. 35, No.2, pp.

247-252, 1995
Elsevier Science Ltd.
Pergamon Printed in Great Britain
0890-6955/9557.00 + .00

DESCRIBING DISTRIBUTION SHAPE: R K AND CENTRAL MOMENT APPROACHES

COMPARED

T. G. KING~ AND N. E. HOUGHTON:l:

"tSCHOOLOF MANUFACTURINGANDMECHANICALENGINEERING
THE UNrVERSrrYOF BmM]NGHAM,B 15 2"vr, U.K.
~:RANKTAYLORHOBSONLTD., LEICESTER,U.K.

SUMMARY

An investigation is reported into characterisation techniques for multi-stratum bearing surfaces such as those produced by
plateau-honing. Experiments have been undertaken to determine whether the information presented by the recently introduced
DIN 4776 R k parameters can be adequately inferred from the existing central moment parameters of the height distribution; Rq,
Rsk and Rku. Measured values of these central moment parameters are used to fit model continuous distribution curves using
the Pearson system of distibutions. The bearing ratio representations of these curves are analysed to derive their DIN 4776 R k
parameters. These simulated R k parameters are then compared with those obtained by direct measurement from the profile. It
is shown that for surfaces with moderate degrees of skewness this modelling procedure allows the R k parameters to be inferred
with reasonable accuracy. For highly skewed surfaces, however, the continuous distributions fitted by Pearson techniques
cannot adequately model the upper portions of the profile height distribution and so Rpk values cannot be estimated at all and
the accuracy with which the other DIN 4776 parameters can be inferred is poorer.

INTRODUCTION T H E O R E T I C A L BACKGROUND

The measurement of surface texture is required in engineering
to predict component performance; to control manufacturing
processes; and to monitor product quality. However, multi-
stratum surfaces, such as plateau-honed finishes, have proven
difficult to measure effectively. The problem arises from an
assumed, or actual, inability of traditional surface texture
parameters to differentiate between the component strata
contained within the multi-stratum surface. This is a
fundamental issue as these strata are not only produced by
separate processes during manufacture, but additionally they
perform entirely different functions in service. For example,
plateau-honing provides a smooth upper stratum for load
bearing, which is penetrated by the rougher lower stratum in
the form of striations between 1 and 10 I.tm deep - this
provides the surface with lubricant retaining properties.
The 'Rk parameters' (by which we intend R k itself and its
associated measures Rpk, Rvk, Mrl and Mr2) were developed
in the mid 1980's by the German metrology industry and are
defined in DIN 4776 [I,2,3]. whilst a phase corrected filter
which must be used in their assessment is defined in DIN
4777 [4]. These parameters are obtained from the bearing
area curve by graphical techniques which have the objective
of producing stable results. However, it has been suggested
that the R k parameters are not suitable for the general
measurement of multi-stratum surfaces, and misleading
results may be obtained [5].
This work presents a comparison between use of the R k
parameter set and central moments of the profile height
distribution with the aim of investigating whether the
information given by the five R k parameters is adequately
conveyed by the three central moment paramcters, Rq, Rsk
and Rku.
Measurement Requirements of Multi-Stratum Surfaces
A typical multi-stratum surface, such as a plateau-honed
component, exhibits distinct component surface textures
within the measured profile, created by differing processes
and possessing different properties. However, the traditional
surface texture parameters make no distinction between these
strata. They analyse the surface as a whole and, therefore,
possibly fail to provide information regarding the quality of
individual strata.
Williamson discusses a method of multi-stratum analysis
which involves the presentation of the bearing area curve on
normal probability coordinates [6]. Gaussian distributions
appear as straight lines, with the component strata being
distinguished by lines of differing gradient, enabling the
differing manufacturing processes to be studied separately.
The gradient of each line is proportional to the individual
RMS roughness (Rq) produced by each particular process.
The intersection points of the lines indicate the limits of each
production process. This could inform a characterisation
scheme based on the production processes. The DIN 4776
characterisation is, by contrast, based on assumptions about
the functions performed by different surface levels.
The DIN 4776 Parameters
The measurement of these parameters requires calculation
and 'pseudo-graphical' algorithmic assessment of the profile
bearing ratio curve according to DIN 4776. The parameters
are intended as an aid to assessing the operational behaviour
of highly loaded bearing surfaces.
Five parameters are defined in DIN 4776. Their
relationship to the profile and bearing ratio curve is illustrated
in Fig. I. The principal parameter of the group, since the

247
 248 T . G . KING and N. E. HOUGHTON

o ~ 4, ao ~1 ~oo%
M~ Ma
Figure 1 - DIN 4776 parameters and their relationship to the profile, bearir~j ratio and height
distribution curves.

other parameters depend on its determination, is R k. The at its point of inflexion; the 50% bearing ratio. The gradient
value of R k is found by searching the bearing ratio curve for of the chord is larger than this. This leads to slightly
its 'flattest' portion, defined as the portion bounded by a inaccurate values for Mrl and Mr2. There is a further
chord, spanning a 40% beating ratio, which has the lowest complication since the 1985 draft version of DIN4776 [2]
slope. In the draft version of DIN 4776 [2] this chord was defines Rk directly from the chord of least gradient whereas
merely projected to reach the 0% and 100% axis bounds. R k the 1990 standard [1] specifies a least squares straight line fit
was then taken as the vertical distance between the ends of to the bearing ratio curve in the region defined by the chord.
the extended chord (as illustrated in Fig. 1). In the 1990 R k This gives an intermediate gradient. Zipin's estimates of Rpk
standard, however, a least-squares straight line fit to the and Rvk are also incorrect because they are based on the
portion of the bearing ratio curve defined by the chord of assumption that Rpk+Rk+Rvk = Rt which is erroneous
lowest slope, is called for. This least-squares line is then because Rpk and Rvk are reduced peak and valley values.
extended to define R k in an otherwise similar manner. In Table I lists Zipin's results and values calculated by the
practice, this alteration to the definition makes only a small authors according to the 1985 and 1990 DIN 4776 assessment
difference to the value obtained. methods.
Having thus defined R k as the width of a central ('core')
band of roughness, the roughness amplitudes above and Draft DIN 4776 DIN 4776
below this band are characterised by Rpk and Rvk, the Parameter Zipin[5]
1965 [21 199011]
reduced (averaged) peak height and valley depth respectively. 2.507 Rq 2.622 Rq 2.568 Rq
In triboiogieal surfaces a small Rpk and large Rvk value Rk 3.286 Ra 3.218 Ra
n Ra
are typical - Rpk indicating the 'running-surface' roughness, 1.747 Rq 0.941 Rq 1.044Rq
whilst Rvk indicates lubricant capacity. Mrl and Mr2 are the Rpk or Rvk 2.189R~z 1.179 Ra 1.308Ra
bearing percentages at which the implicit transitions between 'Mr1 10.5% 9.5% 10.0%
'peak', 'core', and 'valley' occur. The DIN 4776 !Mr2 89.5% 90.5% 90.0%
characterisation could, therefore, be taken as a way of
modelling the bearing ratio curve by means of a three straight Table f - R k family parameter values for a
line approximation, the parameters defining the placement of Gaussian distribution.
these lines. An alternative eonceptualisation is as a three-
rectangle model of the profile height distribution as illustrated Statistical Methods of Profile Assessment
in Fig.l. This could be argued to imply a three-stratum The shape of a statistical distribution can be described in
concept of the surface although there is no direct connection terms of its moments - an approach proposed by Peklenik [7]
between these 'peak', 'core', and 'valley' zones and multi-stage and exploited subsequently in surface metrology [eg 8,9]
manufacturing processes. where the second, third and fourth moments have been
This type of criticism of the R k approach has been made suggested to describe the general shape of the profile ordinate
by Zipin [5]. He points out that it is possible with Rk to height distribution sufficiently well for practical purposes.
'separate' component strata from a Gaussian surface where The 'raw' moments can be defined as:
none exist and therefore concludes that R k can be misleading.
It should be remembered that the R k proposals were aimed at //= iz~p(z)dz
multi-process surfaces. It is obviously unwise to extrapolate
the results of such a limited and unsuitable example to all R k where z is the profile ordinate height and/.i n the n-th moment.
analysis work, however, limitations in the application of Rk The In'st moment, P-I is the mean surface level, which is
are implied. generally of no interest in surface metrology and which is
Zipin derives the relationship between Ra and R k for a usually taken as the ordinate zero datum. Under these
Gaussian distribution and also calculates the values of Rpk, conditions the higher moments are 'central moments' The
Rvk, Mrl, and Mr2 for the Gaussian case. Unfortunately the second central moment, la2, is the variance o 2, which is the
values he quotes are incorrect. Zipin derives the attractively square of the R.MS roughness (Rq), a measure of the spread
simple relationship Rk = o r - ~ from which he concludes of the disL,'ibution. The third central moment, la3, is useful in
Rk = nRa (since o"= Rq = Ra~r~2). However, his charaeterising distribution asymmetry. It is usually used in a
derivation is based on the assumption that the least gradient normalised, scale-invariant, form termed skewness:
of the chord spanning 40% of the bearing ratio curve is the
same as the least gradient of the curve itself, i.e. the gradient 1 iz~p(z)d z
 Describing distribution shape
The fourth moment, P'4, represents 'peakedness' of the
distribution. In its normalised Ibrm it is termed Kurtosis:
R~,,=~iz4p(z)dz
Previous characterisation work [I0] has proposed that if a
suitable general statistical description of a profile could be
obtained in terms of a set of 'primary parameters', these could
be used to derive values for other 'secondary' parameters.
Since we are only concerned here with height, and not spatial,
information this proposition reduces to characterising the
height distribution using the 'primary' statistical parameters
Rq, Rsk, and Rku and modelling it in a form from which
'secondary' parameters such as R k, Rpk , Rvk , Mrl and Mr2,
could be estimated. This requires fitting an appropriate
continuous distribution to the 'primary' parameter data. The
Pearson [11] and Johnson [12] systems of distributions
(described in [13, 14]) have both previously been suggested
for this purpose in surface metrology [15,16,17] and the
former was chosen for this work.
The Pearson System of Distributions
The Pearson system is capable of representing a wide range
of unimodal distributions. A number of distribution types are
defined by the various possible solutions to the differential
equation:
1 df(y) y+a
f(y) dy C,, + C1 Y+ (:2 Y-
These include as special cases Gaussian and beta
distributions. Some of these typcs are unbounded and others
bounded at one or both extremes. Pearson derived a criterion
for assigning an observed distribution to a particular type
based on the values of 131 (the square of the skewness) and 132
(the kurtosis) of the measured distribution. The Pearson types
of interest in this work are those which fit the skewed
distributions found in bearing surfaces. These are principally
the types I 'j' and I 'n' (tbrms of beta distribution and the
types IV, V, and VI.
EXPERIMENTAL WORK
Experimental Equipment
A typical stylus-type surface texture measuring instrument
was used in these tests. It featured an inductive pick-up with
a 2pxn tip-radius diamond stylus, which xvas used with a skid
type datum. The analogue signal from the pick-up was
amplified and digitised using a special purpose interface
providing 16-bit a-d conversion and outputting profile data to
a 80386 based PC in RS232 serial format.
Commercial surface texture analysis software
implemented on the PC permitted detailed analysis of surface
profiles including computation of moment parameters and the
DIN 4776 R k parameters. A special purpose program was
written to allow Pearson curve fittin~ and analysis on the PC.
The surfaces measured in this work included a plateau-honed
cylinder liner; a bearing from a diesel injection pump and a
selection of other automotive components.
Special Filtering Techniques Required
DIN 4776 specifies a special filtering method wo establish a
reference line which is essentially parallel tn the upper
249
stratum of the surface where material contact occurs, and
which is relatively unaffected by the large striations typically
produced by honing. This is achieved by multi-stage filtering
using the phase corrected filter defined in DIN 4777. This
filtering procedure was, therefore, observed by the analysis
software (using frequency-domain filtering) before R k
calculation, however, Rq, Rsk, and Rku are normally
calculated with a least squares or single-pass 2CR filter mean
line reference. Therefore, a discrepancy would have existed
between the Rk and 'primary' parameter filtering methods, a
potential for error in this work. To avoid confusion due to
this inconsistency the surface texture analysis software was
altered to allow the DIN4776/7 filtering procedure to be
applied before calculation of all parameters to ensure that the
Pearson distribution model simulation was consistent with the
Rk method.
Pearson Distribution Program
This program calculates the secondary estimates of the R k
parameters from the three 'primary' parameters Rq. Rsk and
Rku which are obtained from the modified version of the
surface texture software - hence allowing comparison with
the R k parameters obtained directly. It uses the same R k
algorithm as the commercial surface texture software to
ensure consistency of the R k results. The main steps in the
simulation program are: identification, from the input primary
parameters, of the appropriate curve type within the Pearson
system of distributions; calculation of the model height
distribution, using the identified Pearson curve type;
calculation of a bearing ratio curve from the model height
distribution; calculation of the simulated Rk parameters from
the model bearing area curve and; graphical display of all
calculated data. The simulation program was confidence
tested using a Gaussian distribution (with unit Rq) tbr which
the Rk parameter values are as given in Table I above.
Experimental Procedure
The following instrument set-up was used:
Filter: 0.8ram Cut-Off, DIN 4777 type
Magnification: x 10000 (where range allowed)
Traverse Speed: 0.3mm/s
Traverse Length: 5.6ram
Sample Spacing: 21~m
The following procedures were then invoked to derive the
required information for the component surfaces.
i) Calculate Height Distribution Curve
ii) Calculate Bearing Ratio Curve
iii) Calculate Central Moment Parameters
iv) Calculate Rk parameters
It should be noted that the parameters Rq, Rsk and Rku were
recorded for each measurement by two filtering methods: a
single pass of a DIN 4777 phase-corrected filter; and two-
pass filtering with this filter as specified for DIN 4776 R k
assessment. This provided an indication of the effect of the
special filtering methods. The two sets of central moment
parameters obtained by using both filtering methods were
then each used to generate simulated R k parameters using the
Pearson program. This enabled R k parameters from both
methods to be compared with their directly measured
counterparts, along with the actual and modelled height
distributions and bearing area curves.
 250 T . G . KING and N. E. HOUGIIrON

EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS DISCUSSION OF RESULTS

The two sets of primary parameters measured using both Fig. 2 shows the measured points for the plateau-honed
filtering methods as described above are given in Table 2. specimen fall within a the region of the Rsk vs Rku plane
defined as Type I 'j' under the Pearson System, as previously
I~ee. Parameters with Parameters with observed by Spedding [18]. Considerable sampling variation
No sJnl lie-pass filter two-pass filter is evident as is normal with high order moments.
Rq Rsk Rku Rq Rsk Rku Fig. 3 illustrates all measured primary parameters showing
(~m) (p.m) ,
that the individual component surfaces are generally grouped
1 0.71 -1 73 6 59 0 72 -1 82 6.84 in localised regions of the plane, these regions tending to
2 0.95 -3,23 17.84 1.01 -3 73 21.29 belong to particular Pearson types.
3 0.88 -3.22 1956 104 -387 24.02
4 0.87 -2.19 864 0.88 -2 21 8.83
The effect of the DIN 4776/7 two-pass filtering procedure
5 0.91 -1 81 8 98 0 94 -2.01 7.74 on the moment parameters R.q,Rsk, and Rku can be observed
6 0.93 -2 41 9.76 095 -2 52 1016 from table 2. As DIN 4776/7 filtering raises the profile
-7 0.78 -2.72 1335 083 -3 06 14.93 reference line towards the general level of the upper stratum,
8 0.76 -183 7 14 077 -1 89 7.27 the moment parameters are increased in magnitude. This is
9 0.94 -0.38 271 0 97 -040 2 78 due to the reference line being moved away from the valley
10 0.94 -0.63 3 29 0 96 -0 66 3 25 bottoms, therefore increasing the effect of these features on
11 0.24 -1.30 10 36 0 24 -1 30 10,02 the higher moments. For skewed tribological surfaces DIN
12 0.18 -0.16 540 0 18 -029 5.08 4776/7 filtering raises the value of all central moments. The
13 0.18 -1 05 7.96 0.18 -1 10 8.04 higher order moments are most sensitive to variation and are
14 0.44 -2.25 1379 0 47 -2 39 1470 therefore most affected. Tables 3 and 4 show that the
15 0.40 -2.46 13.02 044 -2 52 12.27 variation in the moment parameters caused by the change in
16 0.37 -2.09 13.39 0 40 , -2,00 12 24 filtering method leads to a significant variation in the
i
Specimen measurement Nos.: simulated R k group produced t'rom the same recorded profile
1-8 Plateau Honed Cylinder Liner 9,10 Injector Pump Bearing data.
11-13 Piston 14-16 Crankshaft Journal It is evident from Table 3 that for the plateau-honed
distributions modelled as Pearson Typc 1 'j', simulated values
Table 2 - A Summary of Measured 'Primary' o f the parameter R k show significant variation from its
Parameters
measured values. The estimated value of Rpk is zero for all
The points relevant to the plateau-honed cylinder liner are displayed measurement which is clearly in error as an Rpk of
plotted on an Rsk vs Rku plane in Fig. 2, whilst Ihc points for approximately 0.2 lam was measured directly. The Pearson
all of the tribological surfaces measured :ire .shown in Fig. 3. model has completely truncated the bearing area curve above
Using the 'primary' parameters given in Table 2. the R k the Rk band for Type I 'j' distributions. The associated Mrl
group was simulated using the Pearson model program, and value is, consequently, also simulated as zero. whilst its
the values obtained compared with the directly measured R k measured value was approximately 5°/,. Therefore, the upper
parameters. The result is shown in Table 3. for results 'stratum' of the plateau-honed surfhcc has been simulated as
obtained with the two-pass filtering procedure required by completely flat with no upper roughness.
DIN 4776. An illustrative comparison using the non-standard ]'he simulation of Rvk is much more accurate when
single-pass procedure is provided in Fable 4. compared with measured Rvk values and Mr2 is also

Measured R k Parametem Estimated R k Parameters Percentage Error in R k Estimates Olst

No R klam Rpk Rv k Mr1% Mr2% R klam Rpk Rvk Mr1% Mr2% Rk Rpk Rvk Mr1 Mr2 Type
I~m jam Nm t~m
1 104 0.20 1.58 5,8 776 058 00 1.52 0.0 629 -44.2 -1000 -3.6 -100.0 -19.0 I'J'
2 0,84 0.18 245 5.8 78,2 024 00 2 09 0.0 55.8 -71.2 -81.1 -14.8 -100.0 -28.6 I'J'
3 0.99 0.29 2 36 6.7 78.5 0.06 0.0 1.83 0.0 525 -93.9 -87 9 -30.8 -1000 -33.1 I'J'
4 1.04 0.22 213 4.9 769 0.29 O0 191 0.0 54.9 -718 -86.4 -10,2 -100.0 -286 I'J'
5 10 7 020 2 14 43 73.5 0 60 00 203 00 605 -44.4 -85.0 -5.0 -100.0 -17 7 I'J'
6 0 89 0.19 2.39 57 76 0 0 17 O0 198 0.0 52 9 -809 -84.2 -17.1 -100.0 -30.4 I'J'
7 0.78 0 24 1 97 6.3 77,0 025 00 1.76 0.0 56 5 -68,1 -87.5 -10.7 -100,0 -26.6 I 'J'
8 1.03 028 167 46 75.7 060 0.0 162 0.0 628 -417 -89.3 -2.8 -100,0 -170 I'J'
9 2,57 0.57 1 10 55 88,1 284 048 1.05 6,2 88.9 28 -167 -4.5 131 0,9 I'n'
10 2.33 041 1 28 4.8 84.3 2 47 0 35 1.25 5.0 86.9 60 -146 -2 7 5.2 3.1 I 'n'
11 0.47 0.27 0 41 108 86.4 0 57 0,20 0.42 7,7 85.7 22 1 -27.4 32 -28.8 -0.8 IV
12 0.38 0.22 0 26 10.3 85.3 0 45 0 20 0.24 9.9 88.8 184 -9 1 -6,9 -3.8 4.1 IV
13 0.33 0.21 0.33 11.9 86.4 0,47 0 16 0.33 77 85.7 41 5 -24.8 -0.3 -35.5 ~ -0.8 IV
14 1.01 0.12 I 109 3.8 901] 076 004 0.85 2,2 79.3 -252 -64.2 -221 -397 -120 V
15 0.63 022 086 61 79.9 030 0.01 089 00 630 -529 -93.6 3.5 -100.0 -212 VI
16 0 81 0.20 0.64 6.3 844 076 0.11 0 69 4.6 82 9 -6 0 -44.01 72 -27.3 -1,8 V

Table 3 - A Comparison of Measured R k Parameters with Values Estimated from Moments using two-pass filtering
 Describing distribution shape 251

comparatively accurately simulated. This reflects the
improved performance of the Pearson model in the simulation
of valley features for Type I 'j' surfaces.
For the other components measured, all of which exhibited
negative skew and all but one kurtosis in excess of three,
distributions of Pearson types: I 'n', IV, V, and VI were fitted
and modelled. These have less extreme skew than the Type I
'j', plateau-honed surface, and consequently their simulated
R k parameters matched the directly measured values more
accurately. The Type I 'n' distributions produced the most
accurate simulation. These were the least skewed of the
distributions. The more skewed Type IV distribution
produced R k results accurate to approximately 30%. The
Type V and Type VI distributions were skewed only
moderately less than the Type 1 'j' and consequently produce
R k simulations only slightly more accurate than those of this
most extreme case.
In summary, the R k simulation using Pearson distribution
modelling produced good results for distributions with a low
skewness but accuracy of simulated values rapidly decreased
with increasingly extreme skewness, as exhibited by the
plateau-honed surface. This inaccuracy was most evident in
the upper 'stratum' portion of the model, ie Rpk and Mrl,
whilst Rvk and Mr2 were consistently simulated with
reasonable accuracy, regardless of the extreme skewness in
some distributions.
This investigation started from the premise that a surface
profile height distribution can be adequately described by its
moments Rq, Rsk and Rku and that by re-creating a suitable
continuous model distribution based on these parameters it
should, therefore, be possible to estimate the values of the
DIN 4776 parameter set. Equivalence between estimated and
measured parameters would have implied that the DIN 4776
parameters added little to existing measures. Unfortunately,
although good estimates can be obtained for some
distributions, and for others there is considerable agreement,
the two characterisations cannot be considered equivalent.
This, purely characterisation oriented investigation does not,
of course, imply any value judgement as to the practical
worth of the two approaches in functional surface assessment,
although some aspects are self-evident such as the greater
compactness of the three-parameter central moment approach
by contrast with the five DIN 4776 parameters and,
conversely, the lower sampling variation of the latter.
Kurtosis Rku
25
20
15

Kurtosis Rku
25 ~o 19'
20

15 Impossible
Region
10 I I I I I I 1
-3.5 -3 -2.5 -2 -1.5 -1 -0.5 0
5
Skew Rsk
0
-3.5 -3' '
-2.5 -i= - .5 -i, '
-0.5 0 Cyl. Liner x Crankshaft

S k e w Rsk + Inj, Pump * Piston

Figure 2 - Skew- Kurtosis plane for plateau-honed Ftgure 3 - Skew Kurtosis plane for all
measurements. measurements

Measured Rk Parameter= Estimated Rk Parameters Percentage

Error In Rk Estimates Dlst
No Rk p,m Rpk Rvk Mr1% Mr2% Rk ~rn ! Rpk Rvk Mr1% Mr2% Rk Rpk Rvk Mr1 Mr2 Type
~m ~m ~.m ~.m
1 1.04 0.20 1.58 5.8 77.6 0.79 0.02 1.45 O0 67.9 -24.2 -90.0 -8.2 -100.0 -12.5 I'J'
2 0.84 0.18 2.45 5.8 78.2 0.31 0.03 1.87 0.0 57.2 -63.6 -82.8 -23.8 -100.0 -26.9 I 'J'
3 0.99 029 2.36 6.7 78.5 0.49 0.03 1.86 0.0 61.2 -50.4 -89.7 -20.31 -100.0 -22.1 I 'J'
4 1.04 0.22 2,13 49 76.9 048 0.03 190 O0 59.4 -53.8 -87.3 -11.0 -100.0 -22.7 I'J'
5 1,07 0.20 2.14 4.3 73.5 0.90 0.03 1.86 0.0 66.3 -15.7 -85.5 -12.9! -100.0 -9.8 I 'J'
6 0.89 019 2.39 5.7 760 0.40 0.03 2.08 0.0 57.5 -55.1 -84.2 -130 -1000 -24.4 I'J'
7 0 78 0.24 1 97 6.3 77.0 0.38 0.03 1.58 O0 59.9 -50.9 -89.2 -19.8 -100.0 -22.5 I'J'
8 1 03 0.28 1.67 4.6 75.7 0.74 0.02 1.57 0.0 66.0 -28.3 -92.9 -5.9 -100.0 -12.8 I'J'
9 2.57 057 1.10 55 86.1 2.58 0.45 0.99 6.1 89.0 0.4 -21.7 -9.7 11 4 1.0 I 'n'
10 2 33 041 128 4.8 84.3 2.42 0.40 1.21 58 87.3 3.7 -1.7 -5.5 17.7 3.5 I'n'
11 0.47 027 041 10.8 86.4 0.56 0.19 041 77 65.9 19.8 -29.6 10 -28.9 -0.6 IV
12 0.38 0.22 0.26 10 3 85.3 0.48 0.25 0.27 10.5 88.6 26.0 123 5.0 2.1 3.8 IV
13 0 33 021 0 33 11 9 86.4 0.46 0.16 0 32 7.9 86.0 39.4 -219 -24 -332 -0.5 IV
14 1 01 0121 1.09 36 90 1 080 0.11 0.76 4.3 82.3 -20.9 -6.7 -30.1 ' 20.3 -8.9 V
15 0.63 0 22 0 86 6.1 79.9 0.42 0.01 0.77 0,1 69.7 -34.0 -96.8 -10.6 -988 -12.7 VI
16 0.81 0 20 064 6.3 844 0.69 0.10 0.64 4.5 82.6 -14 6 -50.0 -05 -28.7 -21 V

Table 4 - A Comparison of Measured R k Parameters with Values Estimated from Moments using single-pass filtering
 252 T.G. KING and N. E. HOUGHTON
The basic method of investigation involved the estimation
of the R k parameters, utilising a model distribution generated
by Pearson analysis techniques. The characterisation of the
measured surface was complicated by the large sampling
variation of the primary parameters Rsk and Rku. These
variations, when input into the Pearson based computer
program resulted in variations of the final simulated Rk
parameters much greater than the variation of their directly
measured values.
Experimental results for moderately skewed surfaces,
modelled by distributions of Pearson types I 'n', IV, and V,
demonstrate that the moment parameters do provide a broadly
equivalent characterisation. However, highly skewed
surfaces are modelled in the Pearson system by Type I 'j'
distributions. These are bounded (beta) distributions with a
discontinuity at one extreme. Similar considerations apply to
those modelled as Type VI. Whilst these types can provide
acceptable general statistical models for the height
distributions of these profiles, for some purposes, they do not
adequately describe the uppermost part of the surface, since
they cannot model any distribution tail above the plateau
level, which would represent the roughness on the plateau.
Modelling the distributions by a different system of
frequency curves, such as Johnson curves, is likely to be
subject to similar problems. Ultimately, the information
content of just three central moment parameters allows only a
limited degree of curve fitting and it is unreasonable to expect
a high degree of accuracy in modelling the distribution tails,
whatever system is employed.
CONCLUSIONS
The DIN 4776 ('Rk') parameter group can be derived with
reasonable accuracy from the moment parameters Rq, Rsk,
and Rku for profiles which can be modelled by the Pearson
type I 'n'; IV; and V distributions, which are not extremely
negatively skewed.
The whole R k parameter group cannot be derived from the
moment parameters for highly skewed profiles modelled by
the type I 'j' distribution. The greatest inaccuracy is present
in the Rpk and Mrl parameters due to the complete truncation
of the upper surface in this model.
The DIN 4776 parameters possess the significant advantages
of small sampling variation arising from their graphical
analysis from the bearing ratio curve.
The DIN 4776/7 filtering procedure causes significant
variation of all profile parameters if used as a general purpose
filter for parameter assessment from tribological surfaces: Rq
and Rku increase and ; Rsk becomes more negative. The
largest variations occur in Rsk and Rku, as these are of higher
order than Rq.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The assistance of Rank Taylor Hobson, Leicester and
Loughborough University of Technology in the completion
of this work is gratefully acknowledge t.
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