Title: Influence of auto correlation length in mean and actual summit radii based multi asperity Gaussian rough surface contact models

Authors: Jayashri N. Nair; Nachimuthu Somasundaram; Annapoorna M. Srinivasa Rao; Gokul Biju; B.S. Hari; Santosh Mani

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, VNR Vignana Jyothi Institute of Engineering and Technology, Nizampet, Hyderabad, Telangana, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, VSB College of Engineering Technical Campus, Kinathukadavu, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India ' Department of Mathematics, BMS Institute of Technology and Management, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Vidya Academy of Science and Technology, Technical Campus, Kilimanoor, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kongu Engineering College, Perundurai, Erode, Tamilnadu, India ' K.J. Somaiya School of Engineering, Somaiya Vidyavihar University, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Abstract: Different Gaussian rough surfaces are considered by varying the auto correlation length. Then, mean summit and actual summit radii based multi asperity contact models are developed. The contact parameters of contact load and contact area are calculated using single asperity contact model results. In high ACL/SL case, at extreme interference, the mean summit and actual summit radii based multi asperity contact models showed 48% and 70% difference in contact area ratio and 30% and 49% difference in contact load ratio respectively. A power law expression is developed to relate the contact load and contact area. A dynamism in elastic-plastic contact states of summits is identified which is discussed in detail too.

Keywords: Gaussian rough surface; summit radius; multi asperity contact; elastic-plastic; auto correlation length.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSURFSE.2026.151860

International Journal of Surface Science and Engineering, 2026 Vol.20 No.1, pp.50 - 70

Received: 21 May 2025
Accepted: 11 Sep 2025
Published online: 24 Feb 2026 *

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