Assessment of the structural-deformation inhomogeneity of a thin surface layer of materials by the method of scratching

The structural-deformation inhomogeneity of the surface layer is assessed by the method of scratching with recording the variations of the tangential force of resistance to the motion of an indenter. For the depths of penetration of the Vickers indenter comparable with the parameters of surface roughness, we determine a function used to describe the inhomogeneity of structural-deformation properties of the material along the scanning path without making into account the influence of the surface topography.