The four images (taken with scanning laser confocal microscopy) show variations in surface roughness of an aluminum alloy as produced by increasing amounts of strain: A – 1 percent, B – 4 percent, C – 8 percent and D – 12 percent. Mark Stoudt, Joseph Hubbard and Stanley Janet, NIST

(NIST: Gaithersburg, Maryland) -- Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology have developed a novel technique for measuring the roughness of surfaces that is casting doubt on the accuracy of current procedures. Their results announced in a forthcoming paper could cut development costs for automakers as they design manufacturing tools for new, fuel-efficient, lightweight alloys.

 …