Research status and prospects of the fractal analysis of metal material surfaces and interfaces

As a mathematical analysis method,fractal analysis can be used to quantitatively describe irregular shapes with self-similar or self-affine properties.Fractal analysis has been used to characterize the shapes of metal materials at various scales and dimensions.Conventional methods make it difficult to quantitatively describe the relationship between the regular characteristics and properties of metal material surfaces and interfaces.However,fractal analysis can be used to quantitatively describe the shape characteristics of metal materials and to establish the quantitative relationships between the shape characteristics and various properties of metal materials.From the perspective of two-dimensional planes and three-dimensional curved surfaces,this paper reviews the current research status of the fractal analysis of metal precipitate interfaces,metal grain boundary interfaces,metal-deposited film surfaces,metal fracture surfaces,metal machined surfaces,and metal wear surfaces.The relationship between the fractal dimensions and properties of metal material surfaces and interfaces is summarized.Starting from three perspectives of fractal analysis,namely,research scope,image acquisition methods,and calculation methods,this paper identifies the direction of research on fractal analysis of metal material surfaces and interfaces that need to be developed.It is believed that revealing the deep influence mechanism between the fractal dimensions and properties of metal material surfaces and interfaces will be the key research direction of the fractal analysis of metal materials in the future.

ON STAR PRODUCTFRACTAL SURFACES AND THEIR DIMENSIONS

In this paper, by using fractal curves, a family of fractal surfaces are defined. Each fractal surface of this family is called Star Product Fractal Surface (SPFS). A theorem of the dimensions of the SPFS is strictly proved. The relationship between the dimensions of the SPFS and the dimensions of the fractal curves constructing the SPFS is obtained.

Classification of forearm action surface EMG signals based on fractal dimension

Surface electromyogram （EMG） signals were identified by fractal dimension.Two patterns of surface EMG signals were acquired from 30 healthy volunteers＇ right forearm flexor respectively in the process of forearm supination （FS） and forearm pronation （FP）.After the raw action surface EMG （ASEMG） signal was decomposed into several sub-signals with wavelet packet transform （WPT）,five fractal dimensions were respectively calculated from the raw signal and four sub-signals by the method based on fuzzy self-similarity.The results show that calculated from the sub-signal in the band 0 to 125 Hz,the fractal dimensions of FS ASEMG signals and FP ASEMG signals distributed in two different regions,and its error rate based on Bayes decision was no more than 2.26%.Therefore,the fractal dimension is an appropriate feature by which an FS ASEMG signal is distinguished from an FP ASEMG signal.

THEORETICAL VERIFICATION OF THE SCALING RELATION TO DETERMINE SURFACE FRACTAL DIMENSION OF POROUS MEDIA

A simplified procedure is developed to acquire the surface fractal dimension of porous media utilizing the PSD information from mercury porosimetry or other analyses.The self similarity of the inner surface of Sierpinski sponge is analyzed,the result of which demonstrates that the inner surface of Sierpinski sponge is not scale invariant over the whole range of scale transformations.By applying the simplified procedure to analyze and treat the PSD information of Sierpinski sponge over the scale invariant range,it is found that the surface fractal dimension calculated by the scaling relation is in very good agreement with its theoretical value,which virtually provides a theoretical affirmation of the method.

Running-in Test and Fractal Methodology for Worn Surface Topography Characterization

Studying and understanding of the surface topography variation are the basis for analyzing tribological problems,and characterization of worn surface is necessary.Fractal geometry offers a more accurate description for surface roughness that topographic surfaces are statistically self-similar and can be quantitatively evaluated by fractal parameters.The change regularity of worn surface topography is one of the most important aspects of running-in study.However,the existing research normally adopts only one friction matching pair to explore the surface topography change,which interrupts the running-in wear process and makes the experimental result lack authenticity and objectivity.In this paper,to investigate the change regularity of surface topography during the real running-in process,a series of running-in tests by changing friction pairs under the same operating conditions are conducted on UMT-II Universal Multifunction Tester.The surface profile data are acquired by MiaoXAM2.5X-50X Ultrahigh Precision Surface 3D Profiler and analyzed using fractal dimension D,scale coefficient C and characteristic roughness Ra ＊based on root mean square（RMS） method.The characterization effects of the three parameters are discussed and compared.The results obtained show that there exists remarkable fractal feature of surface topography during running-in process,both D and Ra ＊increase gradually,while C decreases slowly as the wear-in process goes on,and all parameters tend to be stable when the wear process steps into the normal wear process.Ra ＊illustrates higher sensitivity for rough surface characterization compared with the other two parameters.In addition,the running-in test carried with a set of identical surface properties is more scientific and reasonable than the traditional one.The proposed research further indicates that the fractal method can quantitatively measure the rough surface,which also provides an evidence for running-in process identification and tribology design.

Effects of AlN hydrolysis on fractal geometry characteristics of residue from secondary aluminium dross using response surface methodology

The effects of aluminium nitride(AlN)hydrolysis on fractal geometry characteristics of residue from secondary aluminium dross were studied using response surface methodology.The results show that the fractal dimensions of the residue can be significantly influenced by the AlN hydrolysis from secondary aluminium dross.The hydrolysis of AlN in the dross was spontaneous under temperatures of303-373K.The actual fractal dimensions of residue were significantly affected by the liquid-solid ratio(p<0.05)and changed from1.16to1.80,which accurately aligned with those from the calculations.Moreover,the fractal dimensions of residue were significantly affected by the interactions between hydrolysis temperature and hydrolysis time,liquid-solid ratio and hydrolysis time,respectively(p<0.01).The minimum fractal dimensions of the residue reached1.15under the optimized conditions,which included a hydrolysis temperature of30℃,liquid-solid ratio of5mL/g and hydrolysis time of10min.The results suggest that response surface methodology can guide in optimizing the conditions of AlN hydrolysis in order to obtain the minimum fractal dimensions of residue for improving the reutilization of the dross.

Fractal Characteristics and Fractal Dimension Measurement on Broken Surfaces of Aluminum Electric Porcelain

The characteristics of broken surfaces were r esearched by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a reflection microscope, a nd the fractal dimensions of broken surfaces were measured by the Slit Island me thod. The experimental results indicate that the broken surface of aluminum elec tric porcelain is a fractal body in statistics, and the fractal dimensions of br oken surfaces are different with the different amplification multiple value.In a ll of measured fractal dimensions,both of values measured in 100× under reflect ion microscope and in 500× under SEM are maximum, whereas the values measur ed in 63× under reflection microscope and in 2000× under SEM are obviously min imum. The fractal dimensions of broken surfaces are also affected by the degrees of gray comparison and the kinds of measuring methods. The relationships betwee n the fractal dimensions of broken surfaces and porcelain bend strengths are tha t they are in positive correlation on the low multiples and in negative correlat ion on the high multiples.

Fractal characteristics of surface crack evolution in the process of gas-containing coal extrusion

In this paper, simulated experiment device of coal and gas outburst was employed to perform the experiment on gas-containing coal extrusion. In the experiment, coal surface cracks were observed with a high-speed camera and then the images were processed by sketch. Based on the above description, the paper studied the fractal dimension values from different positions of coal surface as well as their changing laws with time. The results show that there is a growing parabola trend of crack dimension value in the process of coal extrusion. Accordingly, we drew the conclusion that extruded coal crack evolution is a process of fractal dimension value increase. On the basis of fractal dimension values taken from different parts of coal masses, a fractal dimension of the contour map was drawn. Thus, it is clear that the contour map involves different crack fractal dimension values from different positions. To be specific, where there are complicated force and violent movement in coal mass, there are higher fractal dimension values, i.e., the further the middle of observation surface is from the exit of coal mass, and the lower the fractal dimension value is. In line with fractal geometry and energy theory of coal and gas outburst, this study presents the relation between fractal dimension and energy in the process of extruding. In conclusion, the evolution of crack fractal dimension value can signify that of energy, which has laid a solid foundation for the quantification research on the mechanism of gas-containing coal extrusion.

Fractal Model for Estimating the Roughness of Rock Fracture Surfaces

The joint roughness coefficient (JRC) is an important geometric parameter in rock mechanics, seismo-geology, engineering geology, and structural geology. In recent years, the fractol geometry has been widely applied in researching JRC In this paper, a simpler fractal model for estimating JRC was developed, whick can be applied in simulating rock discontinuity profiles, aud the rougher the surface, the greater the fractal dimension D The epirical equation of JRC and D was established according to the model’ The JRC values of six joint profiles were estimated according to Eq (10),which are ratker approximate to the typical JRC values; so the method may be applied to estimate the roughness of the fractured surfaces of natural rocks For a give profile the estimates of D and JRC can be obtained from Eqs (5) and (l0) with only one parameter e’ (the average angle of the profile fluctuation) being needed.

Chaos, Fractal and Recurrence Quantification Analysis of Surface Electromyography in Muscular Dystrophy

We analyze muscular dystrophy recorded by sEMG and use standard methodologies and nonlinear chaotic methods here including the RQA. We reach sufficient evidence that the sEMG signal contains a large chaotic component. We have estimated the correlation dimension (fractal measure), the largest Lyapunov exponent, the LZ complexity and the %Rec and %Det of the RQA demonstrating that such indexes are able to detect the presence of repetitive hidden patterns in sEMG which, in turn, senses the level of MU synchronization within the muscle. The results give also an interesting methodological indication in the sense that it evidences the manner in which nonlinear methods and RQA must be arranged and applied in clinical routine in order to obtain results of clinical interest. We have studied the muscular dystrophy and evidence that the continuous regime of chaotic transitions that we have in muscular mechanisms may benefit in this pathology by the use of the NPT treatment that we have considered in detail in our previous publications.

Universality and Specificity of Fractal Dimension of Fractured Surfaces in Materials

After calculation on the fracture angles under various conditions of specific surface energies with different symmetry operations of rotation, the complicated behavior of dependence of fractal dimension on the structure of crystal is shown. It is found that the crack propagates along the weakest crystal plane no matter what the direction of the maximum stress is if the anisotropy is sufficiently strong; and then, the fractal dimension of the fractured surfaces might be determined by the approximate fractal structure already existed in the material. Specificity of the fractal dimension of fractured surfaces would be easy to appear in this case. Reversely, the crack propagates along the direction of the maximum stress no matter what direction of the weakest crystal plane is if the anisotropy is sufficiently weak. Universality of the fractal dimension of fractured surfaces would be possible to appear in this case. In many real materials, universality and specificity of the materials are associated. The fractal dimension measured may more or less be influenced by the structure of materials and it shows its universality through the specificity of materials.

Classification of surface EMG signal with fractal dimension

Surface EMG (electromyography) signal is a complex nonlinear signal with low signal to noise ratio (SNR). This paper is aimed at identifying different patterns of surface EMG signals according to fractal dimension. Two patterns of surface EMG signals are respectively acquired from the right forearm flexor of 30 healthy volunteers during right forearm supination (FS) or forearm pronation (FP). After the high frequency noise is filtered from surface EMG signal by a low-pass filter, fractal di-mension is calculated from the filtered surface EMG signal. The results showed that the fractal dimensions of filtered FS surface EMG signals and those of filtered FP surface EMG signals distribute in two different regions, so the fractal dimensions can rep-resent different patterns of surface EMG signals.

THE THEORY OF FRACTAL INTERPOLATED SURFACE AND ITS APPLICATIONS

In this paper, the principle of construction of a fractal surface is introduced, interpolation functions for a fractal interpolated surface are discussed, the theorem of the uniqueness of an iterated function system of fractal interpolated surface is proved, the theorem of fractal dimension of fractal interpolated surface is derived, and the case that practical data are used to interpolate fractal surface is studied.

Fractal Description of the Shearing-Surface of Tools

In this paper, the basic methods are introduced to calculate the fractaldimensions of the shearing surface of some tools. The fractal dimension of the shearing surface ofexperimental sampling is obtained and the fractal characteristics are also discussed. We can applythe fractal method to identify types of tools used by burglars and to do the job of individualrecognition. New theories and methods are provided to measure and process the shearing surfaceprofile of tools.

The fractal characteristic change in the Huanghe River Estuary due to the hydrodynamic conditions’variation

The study area lies in the subaqueous delta, which came into being in 1964 - 1976. Oneoil-field road has been built for exploring petroleum to form a wave barrier. The hydrodynarnic conditions on the north side of the road are relatively violent, on the contrary the hydrodynarnic conditions on the south side of the road are nearly placid. This makes the study area a natural laboratory for studying the influence of the hydrodynarnic conditions on the fractal characteristics of the tidal flat. Selecting an area is named Case Ⅰ on the side of stronger hydrodynarnic activities and an area is named Case Ⅱ on the other side. Measuring the topography and sampling and analyzing the granulometrical composition, it is found that the hydrodynarnic conditions have fatal influence on the surface fractal dimensions and the granulometrical fractal dimensions of the area. In Case Ⅰ , which has strong hydrodynarnic conditions, the surface fractal dimensions are obviously larger than those of Case Ⅱ , and the granulometrical fractal dimensions are relatively smaller than those of Case Ⅱ , the surface fractal dimensions of Case Ⅰ decrease quickly with the increase of grid size; the granulometrical fractal dimensions are disperse, while the hydrodynarnic conditions of Case Ⅱ are just reverse. A sampling line and a core sampling on each side of the road are selected. It is found that on the south side of the road the granulometrical fractal dimensions vary regularly in the line and with the depth, the farther apart from the road, the smaller the fractal dimensions, and the deeper the sampling position the larger the fractal dimensions, while granulometrical fractal dimensions on the north side of the road have no such regularity pattern. The mechanism of the influence of the hydrodynarnic conditions on the fractal characteristics is discussed.

Fractal analysis of polyferric chloride-humic acid(PFC-HA) flocs in different topological spaces

The fractal dimensions in different topological spaces of polyferric chloride-humic acid （PFC-HA） flocs, formed in flocculating different kinds of humic acids （HA） water at different initial pH （9.0, 7.0, 5.0） and PFC dosages, were calculated by effective densitymaximum diameter, image analysis, and N2 absorption-desorption methods, respectively. The mass fractal dimensions （De） of PFC-HA floes were calculated by bi-logarithm relation of effective density with maximum diameter and Logan empirical equation. The Df value was more than 2.0 at initial pH of 7,0, which was 11% and 13% higher than those at pH 9.0 and 5.0, respecively, indicating the most compact flocs formed in flocculated HA water at initial pH of 7.0. The image analysis for those flocs indicates that after flocculating the HA water at initial pH greater than 7.0 with PFC flocculant, the fractal dimensions of D2 （logA vs. logdL） and D3 （logVsphere vs. logdL） of PFC-HA floes decreased with the increase of PFC dosages, and PFC-HA floes showed a gradually looser structure. At the optimum dosage of PFC, the D2 （logA vs. logdL） values of the flocs show 14%-43% difference with their corresponding Dr, and they even had different tendency with the change of initial pH values. However, the D2 values of the floes formed at three different initial pH in HA solution had a same tendency with the corresponding Df. Based on fractal Frenkel-Halsey-HiU （FHH） adsorption and desorption equations, the pore surface fractal dimensions （Ds） for dried powders of PFC-HA flocs formed in HA water with initial pH 9.0 and 7.0 were all close to 2.9421, and the Ds values of flocs formed at initial pH 5.0 were less than 2.3746. It indicated that the pore surface fractal dimensions of PFC-HA floes dried powder mainly show the irregularity from the mesopore-size distribution and marcopore-size distribution.

Evaluation of surface textures and skid resistance of pervious concrete pavement

Surface textures had long been recognized as primary factors to provide the skid resistance on pavements; however, no measurement of skid resistance on pervious concrete pavement with various surface texture parameters had been made. Fractal geometry was introduced in the present work to accurately simulate transect contour curves of pervious concrete specimens through fractal interpolation. It is proved that its fractal dimension (D) can be adopted to measure the skid resistance on pervious concrete pavement, overcoming the shortcomings of both macrotexture depth (DT ) and British portable pendulum number (NBP). Combined with Fujikawa-Koike tire/road contact model, the optimization method of all surface textures was recommended for designing and constructing excellently skid-resistant and noise-absorptive pervious concrete pavement. In addition, evaluating of the abrasion process and attenuation of the surface textures on concrete pavement slabs was also the focus of this work based on accelerated abrasion test. Results show that the surface textures on pervious concrete pavement slabs is extremely durable, compared to those on conventional grooved or exposed aggregate concrete pavement slabs.

Modeling of Mechanical Behavior of Fractal Rock Joint

The present study shows that naturally developed fracture surfaces in rocks display the properties of self-affine fractals. Surface roughness can be quantitatively characterized by fractal dimension D and the intercept A on the log-log plot of variance: the former describes the irregularity and the later is statistically analogues to the slopes of asperities. In order to confirm the effects of these fractalparameters on the properties and mechanical behavior of rock joints, which have been observed in experiments under both normal andshear loadings, a theoretic model of rock joint is proposed on the basis of contact mechanics. The shape of asperity at contact is assumed to have a sinusoidal form in its representative scale r, with fractal dimension D and the intercept A. The model considers different local contact mechanisms, such as elastic deformation, frictional sliding and tensile fracture of the asperity. The empirical evolution law of surface damage developed in experiment is implemented into the model to up-date geometry of asperity in loading history. The effects of surface roughness characterized by D, A and re on normal and shear deformation of rock joint have been elaborated.

Surface characteristics analysis of fractures induced by supercritical CO_(2)and water through three-dimensional scanning and scanning electron micrography

Morphology of hydraulic fracture surface has significant effects on oil and gas flow,proppant migration and fracture closure,which plays an important role in oil and gas fracturing stimulation.In this paper,we analyzed the fracture surface characteristics induced by supercritical carbon dioxide(SC-CO_(2))and water in open-hole and perforation completion conditions under triaxial stresses.A simple calculation method was proposed to quantitatively analyze the fracture surface area and roughness in macro-level based on three-dimensional(3D)scanning data.In micro-level,scanning electron micrograph(SEM)was used to analyze the features of fracture surface.The results showed that the surface area of the induced fracture increases with perforation angle for both SC-CO_(2)and water fracturing,and the surface area of SC-CO_(2)-induced fracture is 6.49%e58.57%larger than that of water-induced fracture.The fractal dimension and surface roughness of water-induced fractures increase with the increase in perforation angle,while those of SC-CO_(2)-induced fractures decrease with the increasing perforation angle.A considerable number of microcracks and particle peeling pits can be observed on SC-CO_(2)-induced fracture surface while there are more flat particle surfaces in water-induced fracture surface through SEM images,indicating that fractures tend to propagate along the boundary of the particle for SC-CO_(2)fracturing while water-induced fractures prefer to cut through particles.These findings are of great significance for analyzing fracture mechanism and evaluating fracturing stimulation performance.

Characterization of surface EMG signals using improved approximate entropy

An improved approximate entropy (ApEn) is presented and applied to characterize surface electromyography (sEMG) signals. In most previous experiments using nonlinear dynamic analysis, this certain processing was often confronted with the problem of insufficient data points and noisy circumstances, which led to unsatisfactory results. Compared with fractal dimension as well as the standard ApEn, the improved ApEn can extract information underlying sEMG signals more efficiently and accu- rately. The method introduced here can also be applied to other medium-sized and noisy physiological signals.