Engineering Tribology

Surface Topography
Surface Topography

2
Surface Topography
 The surface texture may
be defined as:
 “The characteristic quality
of an actual surface due to
small departure from its
general geometrical form
which, occurring at regular
or irregular intervals, tend
to form a pattern or
texture on the surface”.

3
Primary and Secondary Texture

 Primary texture (roughness) Secondary texture

Grooves Deviation

Notches Waviness

Primary + Secondary textures

4
Primary and Secondary Texture

5
Roughness Parameters
1. Arithmetic average roughness, (Ra).
2. Root mean squared (Rq or Rrms).
3. Roughness depth (Rt)
4. Rz

6
Arithmetic average roughness (Ra)

7
Rrms

8
Roughness depth (Rt)

9
Rz

10
Rz

11
Solved Example

12
Solved Example

13
Solved Example

14
Measurements of Roughness
 Stylus profile device (Contact Measuring
Instrument)

15
Non-Contact Measuring Instruments
 3D laser scanning microscope.

16
Non-Contact Measuring Instruments

17
Assignment (5)
Assignment (5)
1. Define: Surface Texture.
2. What is the primary and secondary Texture?
3. What surface finish is used in engine cylinder liners to optimize wear
and friction between the liners and the piston rings?
4. Draw a schematic illustration for the stylus profile device used to measure
the roughness of a surface.
5. State the advantages and disadvantages of non-contact surface roughness
instruments.
6. The readings of the roughness of a surface are shown in the graph below.
Calculate the Ra, Rz, Rt and Rrms.

19