Approximating rational triangular Bézier surfaces by polynomial triangular Bézier surfaces

An attractive method for approximating rational triangular Bézier surfaces by polynomial triangular Bézier surfaces is introduced. The main result is that the arbitrary given order derived vectors of a polynomial triangular surface converge uniformly to those of the approximated rational triangular Bézier surface as the elevated degree tends to infinity. The polynomial triangular surface is constructed as follows. Firstly, we elevate the degree of the approximated rational triangular Bézier surface, then a polynomial triangular Bézier surface is produced, which has the same order and new control points of the degree-elevated rational surface. The approximation method has theoretical significance and application value: it solves two shortcomings-fussy expression and uninsured convergence of the approximation-of Hybrid algorithms for rational polynomial curves and surfaces approximation.     

An extension of the Bézier model

In this paper, we first construct a new kind of basis functions by a recursive approach. Based on these basis functions, we define the Bézier-like curve and rectangular Bézier-like surface. Then we extend the new basis functions to the triangular domain, and define the Bernstein-Bézier-like surface over the triangular domain. The new curve and surfaces have most properties of the corresponding classical Bézier curve and surfaces. Moreover, the shape parameter can adjust the shape of the new curve and surfaces without changing the control points. Along with the increase of the shape parameter, the new curve and surfaces approach the control polygon or control net. In addition, the evaluation algorithm for the new curve and triangular surface are provided.     

PDE triangular Bézier surfaces: Harmonic, biharmonic and isotropic surfaces

We approach surface design by solving second-order and fourth-order Partial Differential Equations (PDEs). We present many methods for designing triangular Bézier PDE surfaces given different sets of prescribed control points and including the special cases of harmonic and biharmonic surfaces. Moreover, we introduce and study a second-order and a fourth-order symmetric operator to overcome the anisotropy drawback of the harmonic and biharmonic operators over triangular Bézier surfaces.     

Conditions for coincidence of two cubic Bézier curves

This paper presents a necessary and sufficient condition for judging whether two cubic Bézier curves are coincident: two cubic Bézier curves whose control points are not collinear are coincident if and only if their corresponding control points are coincident or one curve is the reversal of the other curve. However, this is not true for degree higher than 3. This paper provides a set of counterexamples of degree 4.     

Constrained multi-degree reduction of triangular Bézier surfaces using dual Bernstein polynomials

We propose a novel approach to the problem of multi-degree reduction of Bézier triangular patches with prescribed boundary control points. We observe that the solution can be given in terms of bivariate dual discrete Bernstein polynomials. The algorithm is very efficient thanks to using the recursive properties of these polynomials. The complexity of the method is O(n²m²), n and m being the degrees of the input and output Bézier surfaces, respectively. If the approximation—with appropriate boundary constraints—is performed for each patch of several smoothly joined triangular Bézier surfaces, the result is a composite surface of global C^r continuity with a prescribed order r. Some illustrative examples are given.     

Approximate Bézier curves by cubic LN curves

In order to derive the offset curves by using cubic Bézier curves with a linear field of normal vectors (the so-called LN Bézier curves) more efficiently, three methods for approximating degree n Bézier curves by cubic LN Bézier curves are considered, which includes two traditional methods and one new method based on Hausdorff distance. The approximation based on shifting control points is equivalent to solving a quadratic equation, and the approximation based on L₂ norm is equivalent to solving a quartic equation. In addition, the sufficient and necessary condition of optimal approximation based on Hausdorff distance is presented, accordingly the algorithm for approximating the degree n Bézier curves based on Hausdorff distance is derived. Numerical examples show that the error of approximation based on Hausdorff distance is much smaller than that of approximation based on shifting control points and L₂ norm, furthermore, the algorithm based on Hausdorff distance is much simple and convenient.     

A third order partial differential equation for isotropic boundary based triangular Bézier surface generation

We approach surface design by solving a linear third order Partial Differential Equation (PDE). We present an explicit polynomial solution method for triangular Bézier PDE surface generation characterized by a boundary configuration. The third order PDE comes from a symmetric operator defined here to overcome the anisotropy drawback of any operator over triangular Bézier surfaces.     

A further generalisation of the planar cubic Bézier spiral

Spiral segments are useful in the design of fair curves. They are important in CAD/CAM applications, the design of highway and railway routes, trajectories of mobile robots and other similar applications. Cubic Bézier curves are commonly used in curve and surface design because they are of low degree, are easily evaluated, and allow inflection points. This paper generalises earlier results on planar cubic Bézier spiral segments and examines techniques for curve design using the new results.     

A planar cubic Bézier spiral

A planar cubic Bézier curve segment that is a spiral, i.e., its curvature varies monotonically with arc-length, is discussed. Since this curve segment does not have cusps, loops, and inflection points (except for a single inflection point at its beginning), it is suitable for applications such as highway design, in which the clothoid has been traditionally used. Since it is polynomial, it can be conveniently incorporated in CAD systems that are based on B-splines, Bézier curves, or NURBS (nonuniform rational B-splines) and is thus suitable for general curve design applications in which fair curves are important.     

On the conditions for the coincidence of two cubic Bézier curves

In a recent article, Wang et al. [2] derive a necessary and sufficient condition for the coincidence of two cubic Bézier curves with non-collinear control points. The condition reads that their control points must be either coincident or in reverse order. We point out that this uniqueness of the control points for polynomial cubics is a straightforward consequence of a previous and more general result of Barry and Patterson, namely the uniqueness of the control points for rational Bézier curves. Moreover, this uniqueness applies to properly parameterized polynomial curves of arbitrary degree.     

Approximating conic sections by constrained Bézier curves of arbitrary degree

In this paper, an algorithm for approximating conic sections by constrained Bézier curves of arbitrary degree is proposed. First, using the eigenvalues of recurrence equations and the method of undetermined coefficients, some exact integral formulas for the product of two Bernstein basis functions and the denominator of rational quadratic form expressing conic section are given. Then, using the least squares method, a matrix-based representation of the control points of the optimal Bézier approximation curve is deduced. This algorithm yields an explicit, arbitrary-degree Bézier approximation of conic sections which has function value and derivatives at the endpoints that match the function value and the derivatives of the conic section up to second order and is optimal in the _L2$L_2$ norm. To reduce error, the method can be combined with a curve subdivision scheme. Computational examples are presented to validate the feasibility and effectiveness of the algorithm for a whole curve or its part generated by a subdivision.     

Sample-based polynomial approximation of rational Bézier curves

We present an iteration method for the polynomial approximation of rational Bézier curves. Starting with an initial Bézier curve, we adjust its control points gradually by the scheme of weighted progressive iteration approximations. The L_p-error calculated by the trapezoidal rule using sampled points is used to guide the iteration approximation. We reduce the L_p-error by a predefined factor at every iteration so as to obtain the best approximation with a minimum error. Numerical examples demonstrate the fast convergence of our method and indicate that results obtained using the L₁-error criterion are better than those obtained using the L₂-error and L_∞-error criteria.     

Pointwise approximation by Bézier variant of integrated MKZ operators

In this paper the pointwise approximation of Bézier variant of integrated MKZ operators for general bounded functions is studied. Two estimate formulas of this type approximation are obtained. The approximation of functions of bounded variation becomes a special case of the main result of this paper. In the case of functions of bounded variation, Theorem B of the paper corrects the mistake of Theorem 1 of the article [V. Gupta, Degree of approximation to functions of bounded variation by Bézier variant of MKZ operators, J. Math. Anal. Appl. 289 (2004) 292-300].     

Design and G connection of developable surfaces through Bézier geodesics

For potential application in shoemaking and garment manufacture industries, the G¹ connection of (1, k) developable surfaces with abutting geodesic is important. In this paper, we discuss the developable surface which contains a given 3D Bézier curve as geodesic and prove the corresponding conclusions in detail. Primarily we study G¹ connection of developable surfaces through abutting cubic Bézier geodesics and give some examples.     

Approximating tensor product Bézier surfaces with tangent plane continuity

We present a simple method for degree reduction of tensor product Bézier surfaces with tangent plane continuity in L₂-norm. Continuity constraints at the four corners of surfaces are considered, so that the boundary curves preserve endpoints continuity of any order α. We obtain matrix representations for the control points of the degree reduced surfaces by the least-squares method. A simple optimization scheme that minimizes the perturbations of some related control points is proposed, and the surface patches after adjustment are C^∞ continuous in the interior and G¹ continuous at the common boundaries. We show that this scheme is applicable to surface patches defined on chessboard-like domains.     

Multi-degree reduction of tensor product Bézier surfaces with general boundary constraints

We propose an efficient approach to the problem of multi-degree reduction of rectangular Bézier patches, with prescribed boundary control points. We observe that the solution can be given in terms of constrained bivariate dual Bernstein polynomials. The complexity of the method is O(mn₁n₂) with m ? min(m₁, m₂), where (n₁, n₂) and (m₁, m₂) is the degree of the input and output Bézier surface, respectively. If the approximation—with appropriate boundary constraints—is performed for each patch of several smoothly joined rectangular Bézier surfaces, the result is a composite surface of global C^r continuity with a prescribed r ? 0. In the detailed discussion, we restrict ourselves to r ∈ {0, 1}, which is the most important case in practical application. Some illustrative examples are given.     

Dual bases for Wang-Bézier basis and their applications

This paper presents the dual bases for Wang-Bézier curves with a position parameter L, which include Bézier curve, Wang-Ball curve and some intermediate curves. The Marsden identity and the transformation formulas from Bézier curve to Wang-Bézier curve are also given. These results are useful for the application of Wang-Bézier curve and their popularization in Computer Aided Geometric Design.     

Improved bounds on the magnitude of the derivative of rational Bézier curves

In this paper we derive some new derivative bounds of rational Bézier curves according to some existing identities and inequalities. The comparison of the new bounds with some existing ones is also presented.     

Accurate evaluation algorithm for bivariate polynomial in Bernstein–Bézier form

In this paper it is presented a compensated de Casteljau algorithm to accurately evaluate a bivariate polynomial in Bernstein–Bézier form. The principle is to apply error-free transformations to improve the traditional de Casteljau algorithm. A forward error and a running error analysis are performed. Finally, some numerical experiments illustrate the accuracy of the proposed algorithm in ill-conditioned problems.