Journal Article

FZJ-2026-03520

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png The Surface-Topography Challenge: A Multi-Laboratory Benchmark Study to Advance the Characterization of Topography

Pradhan, A. ; Müser, M. H. ; Miller, N. ; Abdelnabe, J. P. ; Afferrante, L. ; Albertini, D. ; Aldave, D. A. ; Algieri, L. ; Ali, N. ; Almqvist, A. ; Amann, T. ; Ares, P. ; Balzer, B. N. ; Baugh, L. ; Berberich, E. A. ; Björling, M. ; Bobji, M. S. ; Bottiglione, F. ; Brodmann, B. ; Cai, W. ; Carbone, G. ; Carpick, R. W. ; Cassin, F. ; Cayer-Barrioz, J. ; Chowdhury, M. I. ; Ciavarella, M. ; Cihan, E. ; Huang, D. ; Delplanque, E. ; Deptula, A. J. ; Descartes, S. ; Dhinojwala, A. ; Dienwiebel, M. ; Dini, D. ; Dunn, A. C. ; Edwards, C. ; Eriten, M. ; Esawi, A. ; Espinosa-Marzal, R. M. ; Fang, L. ; Fatemi, A. ; Fidd, C. ; Gabriel, D. ; Gaslain, F. ; Giordano, G. ; Gómez-Herrero, J. ; Gontard, L. ; Gosvami, N. N. ; Greenwood, G. ; Greiner, C. ; Grejtak, T. ; Haroun, A. ; Hasan, M. ; Hoppe, S. ; Isa, L. ; Jackson, R. L. ; Jang, S. ; Johnson, O. ; Kaiser, F. ; Kalin, M. ; Kalliorinne, K. ; Karanjkar, P. H. ; Kim, S. H. ; Kinzelberger, S. ; Klapetek, P. ; Krick, B. A. ; Kumar, C. ; Kumar, N. ; Kumar, S. ; LaMascus, P. ; Larsson, R. ; Laux, P. ; Lee, M. J. ; Lee, P. M. ; Lee, W. ; Leriche, C. ; Li, J. ; Li, Y. ; Li, Y. -. ; Lubrecht, T. A. ; Lyashenko, I. A. ; Ma, C. ; Ma, T. ; Maaboudallah, F. ; Mahmood, S. ; Mangolini, F. ; Marian, M. ; Mazuyer, D. ; Meng, Y. ; Menga, N. ; Miller, T. ; Mulvihill, D. M. ; Najah, M. ; Nečas, D. ; Papadopoulos, C. I. ; Papangelo, A. ; Pauli, M. ; Persson, B. N. J.FZJ* ; Peterson, A. ; Pitenis, A. A. ; Podsiadlo, P. ; Polajnar, M. ; Popov, V. L. ; Požar, T. ; Prasad, A. ; Prieto, G. ; Putignano, C. ; Rahman, M. H. ; Ramisetti, S. B. ; Raumel, S. ; Reyes, I. J. ; Rodriguez, N. ; Rodríguez Ripoll, M. ; Rojacz, H. ; Sainsot, P. ; Samodurova, A. ; Savio, D. ; Scaraggi, M. ; Schaefer, F. ; Scherrer, S. W. ; Schulze, K. D. ; Shaffer, K. E. ; Sidebottom, M. A. ; Skaltsas, D. ; Soni, J. ; Spies, C. ; Stachowiak, G. W. ; Steinhoff, L. ; Strandwitz, N. C. ; Sun, K. ; Tripathi, S. ; Tuckart, W. R. ; Ugar, S. ; Valtr, M. ; Van Meter, K. E. ; Vdovak, J. ; Vilhena, J. G. ; Violano, G. ; Vorlaufer, G. ; Walczak, M. ; Weber, B. ; Woloszynski, T. ; Wolski, M. ; Yadav, A. ; Yastrebov, V. A. ; Yongjian, M. ; Yuan, L. ; Yus, J. ; Zhang, J. ; Zhang, X. ; Zheng, Q. ; Pastewka, L. (Corresponding author) ; Jacobs, T. D. B. (Corresponding author)

2025
Springer International Publishing Cham

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1007/s11249-025-02014-y  doi:10.34734/FZJ-2026-03520

Abstract: Surface performance is critically influenced by topography in virtually all real-world applications. The current standard prac-tice is to describe topography using one of a few industry-standard parameters. The most commonly reported number is Ra,the average absolute deviation of the height from the mean line (at some, not necessarily known or specified, lateral lengthscale). However, other parameters, particularly those that are scale-dependent, influence surface and interfacial properties;for example the local surface slope is critical for visual appearance, friction, and wear. The present Surface-TopographyChallenge was launched to raise awareness for the need of a multi-scale description, but also to assess the reliability of dif-ferent metrology techniques. In the resulting international collaborative effort, 153 scientists and engineers from 64 researchgroups and companies across 20 countries characterized statistically equivalent samples from two different surfaces: a “rough”and a “smooth” surface. The results of the 2088 measurements constitute the most comprehensive surface description evercompiled. We find wide disagreement across measurements and techniques when the lateral scale of the measurement isignored. Consensus is established through scale-dependent parameters while removing data that violates an establishedresolution criterion and deviates from the majority measurements at each length scale. Our findings suggest best practicesfor characterizing and specifying topography. The public release of the accumulated data and presented analyses enablesglobal reuse for further scientific investigation and benchmarking.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Quanten-Theorie der Materialien (PGI-1)

Research Program(s):

1. 5211 - Topological Matter (POF4-521) (POF4-521)
2. DFG project G:(GEPRIS)390951807 - EXC 2193: Lebende, adaptive und energieautonome Materialsysteme (livMatS) (390951807) (390951807)

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Database coverage:
; ; ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Engineering, Computing and Technology ; DEAL Springer ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF < 5 ; JCR ; Nationallizenz ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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