The orientation distribution function (ODF) in a polycrystalline sample is of special interest in texture
analysis. Its determination from pole figures leads to an ill-posed problem, the solution of which is
non-unique.In the present paper the properties of normal distributions on the rotation group SO(3) proposed by
Parthasarathy (1964), Savyolova (1984) are discussed. A method for ODF determination based on
the superposition of the normal distributions is proposed. The parameters of normal distributions
are determined from the experimental pole figures. The application of this method is demonstrated
for a rolling texture of beryllium.
