Some theoretical aspects of surface peak parameters

Parameters of the surface profile such as average peak height obtained by t he conventional method using the peak frequency (count) distributions are w ell known. It is suggested that for tribological uses such as in contact an alternative approach is to use probabilities rather than frequency of occu rrence as the basis for peak parameter evaluation. An alternative interpret ation of peak count and its relevance is given. The differences between the se two approaches are obtained in general random process terms and in a mor e specific form using multinormal theory. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc. Al l rights reserved.