Abstract. As observed by Farouki et al. [9], any set of C 1 space boundary data (two points with associated first derivatives) can be interpolated by a Pythagorean hodograph (PH) curve of degree 5. In general there exists a two dimensional family of interpolants. In this paper we study the properties of this family in more detail. We introduce a geometrically invariant parameterization of the family of interpolants. This parameterization is used to identify a particular solution, which has the following properties. Firstly, it preserves planarity, i.e., the interpolant to planar data is a planar PH curve. Secondly, it has the best possible approximation order (4). Thirdly, it is symmetric in the sense that the interpolant of the "reversed" set of boundary data is simply the "reversed" original interpolant. These observations lead to a fast and precise algorithm for converting any (possibly piecewise) analytical curve into a piecewise PH curve of degree 5 which is globally C 1 . Finally we exploit the rational frames associated with any space PH curve (Euler-Rodrigues frame) in order to obtain a simple rational approximation of pipe surfaces with a piecewise analytical spine curve and we analyze its approximation order.

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Abstract. We solve the problem of C 2 Hermite interpolation by Pythagorean Hodograph (PH) space curves. More precisely, for any set of C 2 space boundary data (two points with associated first and second derivatives) we construct a four-dimensional family of PH interpolants of degree 9 and introduce a geometrically invariant parameterization of this family. This parameterization is used to identify a particular solution, which has the following properties. First, it preserves planarity, i.e., the interpolant to planar data is a planar PH curve. Second, it has the best possible approximation order 6. Third, it is symmetric in the sense that the interpolant of the "reversed" set of boundary data is simply the "reversed" original interpolant. This particular PH interpolant is exploited for designing algorithms for converting (possibly piecewise) analytical curves into a piecewise PH curve of degree 9 which is globally C 2 , and for simple rational approximation of pipe surfaces with a piecewise analytical spine curve. The algorithms are presented along with an analysis of their error and approximation order.

Given a polynomial space curve r(ξ) that has a rational rotation-minimizing frame (an RRMF curve), a methodology is developed to construct families of rational space curvesr(ξ) with the same rotation-minimizing frame as r(ξ) at corresponding points. The construction employs the dual form of a rational space curve, interpreted as the edge of regression of the envelope of a family of osculating planes, having normals in the direction u(ξ) = r ′ (ξ) × r ′′ (ξ) and distances from the origin specified in terms of a rational function f (ξ) as f (ξ)/ u(ξ). An explicit characterization of the rational curvesr(ξ) generated by a given RRMF curve r(ξ) in this manner is developed, and the problem of matching initial and final points and frames is shown to impose only linear conditions on the coefficients of f (ξ), obviating the non-linear equations (and existence questions) that arise in addressing this problem with the RRMF curve r(ξ). Criteria for identifying low-degree instances of the curvesr(ξ) are identified, by a cancellation of factors common to their numerators and denominators, and the methodology is illustrated by a number of computed examples.

Boundary approximation of planar shapes by circular arcs has quantitive and qualitative advantages compared to using straight-line segments. We demonstrate this by way of three basic and frequent computations on shapes -convex hull, decomposition, and medial axis. In particular, we propose a novel medial axis algorithm that beats existing methods in simplicity and practicality, and at the same time guarantees convergence to the medial axis of the original shape.