Asperity (materials science)

In materials science, asperity, defined as "unevenness of surface, roughness, ruggedness" (from the Latin asper—"rough"), has implications (for example) in physics and seismology. Typical "smooth surfaces", even those polished to a mirror finish, are still not truly smooth on a microscopic scale. They are rough, with sharp, rough, or rugged projections, termed "asperities". Surface asperities exist across multiple scales, often in a self-affine or fractal geometry. The fractal dimension of these structures has been correlated with the contact mechanics exhibited at an interface in terms of friction and contact stiffness.

An understanding of the concept of asperities is required for any understanding of the field of Tribology, the scientific study of friction, wear, and lubrication.

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