CHAPTER 31

Surfaces: Their Nature, Roughness, and

Measurement

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 Surface Structure of Metals

Figure 31.1 Schematic illustration of a cross-section of the surface structure of metals. The thickness of the
individual layers is dependent on processing conditions and processing environment.

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 Fatigue Curve for Surface-Ground Steel

Figure 31.2 Fatigue curve for

surface-ground 4340 steel, quenched
and tempered, 51 HRC. Note the
severe reduction in fatigue strength
under abusive grinding conditions.
(See also Fig. 2.28.)

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 Terminology in Describing Surface Finish
Figure 31.3 Standard
terminology and
symbols to describe
surface finish. The
quantities are given in
µ in.

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 Coordinates for Surface-Roughness
Measurements

Figure 31.4 Coordinates used for surface-roughness measurement, using Eqs. (31.1) and (31.2).

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 Standard Lay Symbols for Engineering
Surfaces

Figure 31.5
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 Measuring Surface Roughness
(b)

Figure 31.6 (a) Measuring surface roughness with a stylus. The rider supports the stylus and guards against
damage. (b) Surface measuring instrument. Source: Sheffield Measurement Division of Warner & Swasey Co.
(c) Path of stylus in surface roughness measurements (broken line) compared to actual roughness profile. Note
that the profile of the stylus path is smoother than that of the actual surface. Source: D. H. Buckley

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 Surface Profiles
Figure 31.7 Typical surface profiles produced by various machining and surface-finishing processes. Note
the difference between the vertical and horizontal scales. See also Fig. 32.4. Source: D. B Dallas (ed.),
Tools and Manufacturing Engineers Handbook, 3d ed. Copyright © 1976, McGraw-Hill Publishing
Company. Used with permission.

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 Three-Dimensional Surface Measurement

Figure 31.8 Surface of rolled aluminum.

Figure 31.9 A highly polished silicon

surface measured in an atomic force
microscope. The surface roughness is
Rq = 0.134 nm.

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