LAUSR

Abstract The surface topography of a grinding wheel is an indispensable prerequisite for the modelling, simulation and optimisation of grinding. In this study, the basic topographic parameters of grains and two new indices are proposed to parametrically evaluate the surface topography of the grinding wheel, and then a three-dimensional model for the surface topography of the grinding wheel is established. The basic topographic parameters are characterised using statistical methods. Based on the concept of the fraction of the grain protrusion area Sr that is optically detected, two new indices, the grain protrusion degree βd and the dispersion degree of the grain protrusion area δs are defined. Although the grain shape is irregular, a truncated octahedron is used to simulate the diamond grain. By continuous adjustment the distribution of the grain protrusion height σ2 and the coordinate value of the bond surface zb, the surface topography model becomes closer to reality, when the two indices βd and δs are similar to that of the actual grinding wheel. Finally, the established three-dimensional model is compared with an actual grinding wheel by the total number of grains per unit area ρgnS and the grain protrusion height hg, and the accuracy of the model is verified.