Application of Shape from Shading Algorithm in Wear Debris 3D Surface Shape Recovery

More detailed surface information is included in the three-dimensional surface topography image of wear debris compared with two-dimensional image of wear debris. So it is crucial to conduct wear debris analysis based on 3D surface topography of wear debris. A shape from shading (SFS) algorithm used in the 3D recovery of wear debris is studied in this paper and finally the algorithm is applied in several typical ferrography images. The experimental results show that this algorithm is simple to implement, images recovered are stereoscopic and supply the 3D information for the analysis of wear debris. This method does not need expensive equipments, so it has a high value in engineering field.