In this paper, the sampling intervals have been studied for measuring discretely the surface asperities in order to process with a digital computer. These intervals were decided by using the autocorrelation function of asperity heights so that the deviations of the simulated profile interpolated linearly between sampled data from the continuous profile were less than the limit value. The standard deviation of the above-mentioned deviations was selected to be 1% of that of asperity heights for

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... e optimum sampling intervals. The sampling intervals in this research were investigated for ground surfaces and lapped ones. For the two-or the three-dimensional analysis of surface asperities, the sampling intervals should have mutually a strong correlation. A validity of these intervals was verified by the form of profiles chained with the sampled data and the standard deviation of asperity slopes.