The quantitative characterization of fracture surface geometry, that is, quantitative fractography, can provide useful information regarding the microstructural features and failure mechanisms that govern material fracture. This article is devoted to the fractographic techniques that are based on fracture profilometry. This is followed by a section describing the methods based on scanning electron microscope fractography. The article also addresses procedures for three-dimensional fracture surface reconstruction. In each case, sufficient methodological details, governing equations, and practical examples are provided.

Surface damage from sliding contact is related to the adhesion of mating surfaces in contact. This article describes the methods for evaluation of surface damage caused by sliding contact. It defines adhesive wear in terms of asperity, cold welding, galling, scuffing, seizure, and wear coefficient. The article discusses various galling testing methods, such as button-on-block galling test, pin-on-flat galling test, and threaded connection galling test. It provides an overview of fretting wear that occurs between two tight-fitting surfaces subjected to a cyclic, relative motion of extremely small amplitude. The article also reviews the fretting rig for investigating fretting wear.