Smooth estimation of size distributions in an oriented cylinder model

Abstract

Kernel estimators are proposed for estimating the cumulative distribution functions and the probability density functions of several quantities of interest in a stereological oriented cylinder model. This oriented cylinder model was developed to represent anisotropic microstructural features in materials. The asymptotic properties of these estimators are studied, and the estimators are applied to two banded dual phase steel microstructures. The estimation method is quite general and can also be applied to distributions of other univariate quantities of interest.