Abstract
The present paper aims to investigate the effect of surface defects upon contact area shape and dimensions in the case of metallic spherical punches pressed against a flat, optically transparent surface. Experimental investigations were conducted using a previously advanced, optical method, based on surface reflectivity. Various surface defects were artificially generated on the surface of steel ball bearing balls with 12.775 mm in diameter. The considered defects were grooves and holes. The employed experimental method is based on the accurate evaluation of contact interface reflectivity of loaded contacts, by aid of laser profilometry, as described in previous works [1-9]. Keywords: surface defects, mechanical contacts, contact area, laser profilometry, reflectivity