SPATIAL CORRELATIONS IN METAL STRUCTURES AND THEIR ANALYSIS .2. THE COVARIANCE

The covariance for systems of random particles in space is an importan t second-order characteristic. It describes the spatial distribution o f the particles. The covariance is easy to measure on planar sections of particle dispersions. Models based on systems of spheres are helpfu l for the interpretation of empirical covariances. For the Boolean mod el the covariance can be given in an analytical form. For the Stienen model the covariance was determined by simulation. On the basis of cov ariance for these models, the measured covariance for Fe3C particle di spersion of a tempered steel is discussed.