Next: 11.2.2 Classification of singularities Up: 11.2 Planar offset curves Previous: 11.2 Planar offset curves   Contents   Index

11.2.1 Differential geometry

Figure 11.8: Definitions of unit tangent and normal vectors (adapted from [254])
In this entire chapter we employ the convention (b) (see Fig. 3.7 (b) and Table 3.2) such that the curvature of a curve at point is positive when the center of curvature is on the opposite direction of the unit normal vector as illustrated in Fig. 11.8. Following this convention, the Frenet-Serret formulae for a planar curve , with arbitrary speed (2.57) reduce to
    (11.3)

where is the parametric speed. The second equation of (11.3) can be rewritten as follows:
    (11.4)

A planar offset curve with signed offset distance to the progenitor planar curve is defined by

    (11.5)

The unit tangent and normal vectors and the curvature of the offset curve are given by [102]
    (11.6)
    (11.7)
    (11.8)

where (11.3) (11.4) are used for the derivation.



Next: 11.2.2 Classification of singularities Up: 11.2 Planar offset curves Previous: 11.2 Planar offset curves   Contents   Index
December 2009