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Computational methods for blending surface approximation

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Abstract

Blending surfaces form a smooth transition between two distinct, intersecting surfaces or smoothly join two or more disconnected surfaces and are normally procedural surfaces which are difficult to exchange and to interrogate in a reliable and efficient manner. In this paper, an approximation method for blending surfaces which are curvature continuous to the underlying surfaces with a non-uniform rational B-spline (NURBS) surface is presented. The use of NURBS is important since it facilitates the exchange of geometric information between various computer aided design and manufacturing systems. In the method, linkage curves on the underlying surfaces are approximated to within a specified tolerance and cross-link curves are created using the linkage curves, a directional curve and the parametric partial derivatives of the underlying surfaces. Cross-link curves are lofted to form the blending surface and an adaptive sampling procedure is used to test the blending surface against specified tolerances. Cross-link curves are added, where necessary, and the surface relofted until the continuity conditions are satisfied to within specified tolerances. Examples illustrate the applicability of the method.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, WA 98310-5000, Bremerton, Washington, USA

    P. C. Filkins

  2. MIT Department of Ocean Engineering, Design Laboratory, MA 02139-4307, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

    S. T. Tuohy & N. M. Patrikalakis

Authors
  1. P. C. Filkins
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  2. S. T. Tuohy
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  3. N. M. Patrikalakis
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Filkins, P.C., Tuohy, S.T. & Patrikalakis, N.M. Computational methods for blending surface approximation. Engineering with Computers 9, 49–62 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01198253

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