A Novel Method for automatic detection of incipient micropitting in ground surfaces

Micropitting is a surface fatigue phenomenon, on the scale of the surface roughness, which can be a significant problem in heavily loaded mixed lubrication contacts in power transmission gearing. Modern surface profilometry equipment allows detailed areal measurements of micropitted surfaces to be obtained. However, the processing of these surfaces to determine the extent of micropitting is difficult and often involves manual or semimanual evaluation. This paper presents a new algorithm to allow the automated detection of micropits in areal surface measurements of ground surfaces, and its effectiveness is demonstrated by examination of measurements taken from a test where the early stages of micropitting developed. Comparison with previous methods for evaluating the amount of micropitting based on linear surface profiles clearly illustrates the truly threedimensional nature of incipient micropitting.

Automated summary

This paper presents a new algorithm for automated detection of micropitting in areal surface measurements of ground surfaces, demonstrating its effectiveness through examination of measurements from a test where early stages of micropitting developed. Comparison with previous methods based on linear surface profiles highlights the truly three-dimensional nature of incipient micropitting.