A n
I n t r o d u c t i o n
t o
N U R B S
With Historical Perspective
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An
I n t r o d u c t i o n
t o
N U R B S
With Historical Perspective
Professor of Aerospace Engineering
United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD
An Imprint of Elsevier
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Senior Production Editor Cheri Palmer
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Cover Design Ross Carron Design
Cover Images (1. to r.)
Top row: Courtesy of John C. Dill and David F. Rogers;
(~) Dunwell Photography, Steve/The Image Bank; (~)David Chasey/PhotoDisc
Center row: Q Rob Magiera/The Image Bank/Picture Quest
Bottom row: Courtesy of CGI: R/GA Digital Studios
Back Cover Images Courtesy of John C. Dill and David F. Rogers
Back Cover Photo Courtesy of Ken Mierzejewski
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication D a t a
Rogers, David F., date
An introduction to NURBS : with historical perspective / David F. Rogers.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN-13:978-1-55860-669-2
ISBN- 10:1-55860-669-6
1. Spline theory--Data processing. 2. Computer-aided design. I. Title.
QA224.R64 2001
511'.42--dc21
This book is printed on acid-free paper.
00-039119
Dedicated to
Pierre B&ier for his fundamental contribution
Robin Forrest for his insight
Bill Gordon for his mathematical contributions
Carl de Boor and Maurice Cox for the Cox-de Boor algorithm
Steve Coons for his mathematical genius
Rich Riesenfeld for B-splines
Elaine Cohen, Tom Lyche and Rich Riesenfeld for the Oslo Algorithms
Lewie Knapp for rational B-splines
Ken VerspriUe for NURBS
and all those great and small
who advance the state of the art
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C o n t e n t s
Chapter 1
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
Chapter 2
2.1
2.2
Preface
Curve and Surface
Representation
Introduction
Parametric Curves
Extension to Three Dimensions
Parametric Line
Parametric Surfaces
Piecewise Surfaces
Continuity
Geometric Continuity
Parametric Continuity
Historical Perspective
B~zier Curves" Robin Forrest
B~zier Curves
B4zier Curve Definition
B4zier Curve Algorithm
Matrix Representation of Bdzier Curves
XV
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