How two- and three-dimensional surface metrology data are being used to improve the tribological performance and life of some common machine elements

The use of two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) topography data in assessing the functional significance of manufactured surfaces has formed a useful tool to production and design engineers for many years. However, over recent years, the development of numerical contact analysis methods has allowed much more quantitative analysis of both 2D and 3D topography data to be performed. Some examples of how this has led to real improvements in the performance and life of common engineering components such as rolling element bearings and gears are presented to demonstrate the potential of such methods. At present numerical contact mechanics analysis is simply a research tool, but programs are now reaching a level of sophistication and potential to be of general use as production and design tools. It is likely that, in the near future, they will form a further, and very useful, analysis option available on future surface metrology instrument data-analysis packages. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.