Abstract
This chapter emphasizes the role of surface texture in maintaining the structural integrity of a rubbing material. This assumes considerable importance in modern designs because of the multi-function nature of surfaces. The complexity experienced in modern systems calls for customization which, despite emerging as a pressing requirement, is not easy to implement. This is because of the interdependence of the factors involved which renders the customization process industrially demanding. The main cause of such a state is the absence of a design paradigm that caters to the multi-functionality requirement for futuristic surfaces. Customization may, however, benefit from studying the interaction of natural surfaces and exploiting the interplay between functional gradients of subsurface layers and surface topography. Such interconnection is responsible for the efficiency of locomotion in biological species and for the conservation of energy while moving.