Abstract:

A modified Gaussian fractal model for surface topography is shown to predict a primary relationship between fractal dimension and the bearing length ratio curve,while topothesy affects this curve to a smaller degree.Fractal dimension is scale invariant,and it yields a robust numerical measure of surface topography,no matter what the instrument resolution and sampling length.It appears that fractal geometry may provide a more reliable and natural method for analyzing surface topography than do conventional methods.That is to say , fractal dimension provides a simple quantitative measure of the contact support ability of surface ,and it is more concise and practical than the bearing length ratio curve.

Key words: surface topography, fractal dimension, topothesy