Method for determining the parameters of surface roughness by usage of a 3D scanner

Appropriate methods and parameters best describing the surface roughness are searched for. Concrete is a heterogeneous material and various types of damage and surface cleaning cause an increase of the roughness. Surface roughness depends i.a. on the quality and method of cleaning used. Mapping the shape of the profile is usually performed using profilografs. Description of surface roughness is usually expressed via standards parameters or fractografic parameters that must be determined using the cycloid grid imposed on selected images of surface profiles. This method is approximate. Described in this article is a new method for measuring shapes which can be applied for any area (not just concrete), and most importantly, gives information about the roughness of the entire surface in an accurate manner. The calculations are made directly from geometric measurements of the whole surface, and not based on averaging the results of the selected profiles. The method uses a 3D scanner and CAD capabilities available in research centers or freeware programs. (C) 2012 Politechnika Wroclawska. Published by Elsevier Urban & Partner Sp. z.o.o. All rights reserved.