On the Surface Metrology of Bimetallic Components

Abstract

A bimetallic component may perform better than its monometallic counterpart in terms of sustainability (i.e., cost, weight, and environmental impacts of primary material production). Thus, the usages of such components are likely to increase in the years to come. Three distinct segments (segments of the constituent materials and joint area) underlie a bimetallic component, necessitating a rather unique surface characterization methodology. The objective of this study is to shed some lights on the surface characterization of a bimetallic component using both conventional and non-conventional approaches. In order to get insights into the surface finish of a bimetallic component, specimens are prepared by joining bars made of commercially pure Titanium (Ti) and Aluminum (Al). The specimens are then turned under some predefined cutting conditions, and the surface profile heights across the joint area are measured by using noncontact surface metrology equipment. The surface profiles are characterized by using the conventional parameters. In addition, the complexity of the surfaces is quantified by using the information content based parameter. Moreover, to quantify the degree of uncertainty, probability/possibility distributions are induced from the profile heights. Both conventional and proposed parameters are equally important for quantifying the surface roughness of a bimetallic component.