Florin DRĂGAN, Raluca NERIŞANU, Delia DRĂGAN

STUDY ON THE GENERATION OF SOME BLENDING SURFACES

Abstract:. In this paper, using the blending (Coons) method, we generate some families of free-form
surfaces feasible in civil engineering, industries of airplanes, ships, automobiles, industrial and artistic
objects, scientific researches and others. The possibility of designing free-form surfaces with the aid of
computers has led to new methods for defining surfaces of the following types: Bezier [3], spline [3],
Shepard [13], blending (Coons and Gordon) [8], [3] and others.
Key words: Blending (Coons) surfaces, Parabolic, elliptic, hyperbolic points, Free-form surfaces,
Computer Aided Geometric Design (CAGD), Interpolation.

1. INTRODUCTION  z = f 0 ( x)  z = f1 ( x )
( AB) , ( DC ) , x ∈ [0, a] (3)
Classical surfaces as spheres, cylinders, cones, y = 0 y = b
hyperboloids with one sheet, paraboloids, ruled surfaces
and velaroidal surfaces are widely used in civil
 z = g 0 ( y)  z = g1 ( y )
engineering as artistic coverings for large halls, stadiums ( AD) , ( BC ) , y ∈ [0, b] (4)
and many other buildings. This is because their shapes x = 0 x = a
are easily manufactured.
On the other hand the possibility of designing free- see Figure 1.
form surfaces with the aid of computers has determined The equation (1) represents the blending surface from
surfaces of the following types: Bezier [3], spline [3], Figure 1,
Shepard [13], blending (Coons and Gordon) [8], [3] and
others. if F(x,0)=f0(x), F(x,b)=f1(x), F(0,y) = g0(y)
In some situations the distribution of parabolic points
on a surface is needed. and
Recall that the points of a surfaces (S), represented by
the equation F(a,y)=g1(y), (5)
z=F(x,y),(x,y)∈D,D⊂ℜ2 (1) x∈[0,a], y∈[0,b].
are parabolic points if

(PF)(x,y)=0,

where
PF= Fx 2 Fy 2 − Fxy .
2
(2)

The points for which (PF)(x,y ) > 0, (PF(x,y) < 0,

respectively) are called elliptic points of (S) (hyperbolic
points of (S), respectively).
In this paper we will localize these points on a surface
of blending type (Coons).
The blending surfaces have been created by S.
Coons [8].
Fig. 1 A blending surface with supports the curves (AB),
(BC), (CD) and (AD) .
2. DETERMINATION OF A FAMILY OF
BLENDING SURFACES Further one considers the surfaces
Next we consider the space frame ABCD, where
(AB),(CD),(DC) and (AD) are four given curves, see ( S1 ) z = ( Lx F )( x, y ) , ( S 2 ) z = ( Ly F )( x, y )
Figure 1.
Let us assume that these curves are represented by the and
following equations, ( S1 ) z = ( Lx F )( x, y ) (6)

JUNE 2009  NUMBER 5 JIDEG 27

Study on the generation of some blending surfaces

where Lx F , Ly F are the Lagrange operators z=

(a − x )(b − y ) (h − aαx − bβy )
ab
a−x x (x,y)∈D, D⊃[0,a] × [0,b]. (13)
( Lx F )( x, y ) = F (0, y ) + F (a, y ) (7)
a a The parabolic points of this surface, taking into
b − y y
( Ly F )( x, y ) = F ( x,0) + F ( x, b) (8) account equation (2), one projects onto ellipse
b b
4αβ
and (in matrix form)
(a − x )(b − y ) −
ab (14)
1
(
− 2 2 h + αa 2 + β b 2 − 2aαx − 2bβy = 0,
2
)
(L L F )(x, y ) =  a −a x
x y x
a 
× a b

(9)
 F (0,0 ) F (0, b )  b − y
T with the centre C(x0,y0), where
y
× 
 F (a,0 ) F (a, b )  b b 
x0 =
h + 2αa 2 − βb 2
3aα
One easily remarks that the first two surfaces from and
(6) are ruled surfaces; (S1) interpolates to the curves h + 2 β b 2 − αa 2
(AD), (BC) and (S2) interpolates to the curves (AB), (DC). y0 = (15)
The surface (S3) interpolates only to the points A, B, C
3bβ
and D.
By direct calculus one checks that the surface In the special case a=b and α=β, the equations (13)
and (14) and formulas (14) become
z = ( Lx F + Lx F − Lx Ly F )( x, y ) ,
z=
(a − x )(a − y ) [h − aα (x + y )]
x ∈ [0, a ] , y ∈ [0, b] (10) 2
(16)
a
interpolates to the all above curves. 4a 2α 2 (a − x )(a − y ) −
(17)
− [h − 2aα (a − x − y )] = 0
2
Denoting F(0,0) = h, F(a,0) = h10, F(0,b) = h01 and
F(a,b)=h11 and taking into account (5), (6), (7), (8) and
and
(9), the final form of the equation (10) is
h + a 2α
x0 = y 0 = (18)
z=H(x,y;f0,g0,f1,g1), (11) 3aα
where After the changes of coordinates

H ( x , y ; f 0 , g 0 , f 1 , g1 ) =
1
[(a − x )g 0 ( y ) + xg1 ( y)] +
a x = x0 +
2
( X − Y ) and y = y0 + 2 ( X + Y ) ,
1 2 2
+ [(b − y ) f 0 ( x) + yf1 ( x)] −
b the equation (17) becomes
1
− [(a − x)(b − y )h + (a − x) yh01 + x(b − y ) h10 + xyh11 ]
ab 2
 h − 2a 2α 
3 X + Y = 
2 2
 , (19)
x∈[0,a], y=[0,b].  aα 6 

This surface is of the blending (Coons) type. which represents a family of ellipses, α - real. The
Next we consider some particular cases: interior (exterior) points of each ellipse are of hyperbolic
h
(elliptic) type. For α = the surface (16) becomes
 h
1. If f 0 (x ) =  αx − ( x − a ), f1(x)=0 2α 2
 a
 h
g 0 ( y ) =  β y − ( y − b ) (12)
z=
h
(a − x )(a − y )(2a − x − y ) (20)
2a 3
 b and
P( x, y ) ≡ (a − x ) + (a − y ) +
2 2
and g1(y)=0, α≠ 0, β≠0, then the equation (11) becomes (21)
+ (a − x )(a − y ) = 0
28 JUNE 2009  NUMBER 5 JIDEG
 Study on the generation of some blending surfaces
From here results the all points of surface (20) are of Analogously, extension (restriction) of the surface
elliptic type excepting the parabolic point A(a,a). (11), by symmetry with respect to xOz plane is
The envelope of the family of ellipses (17) are the represented by the equation
straight lines x=a and y=a, see Figure 2.
z = H ( x, y , f 0 ( x), g 0 ( y ), f1 ( x), g1 ( y ))
(24)
0 ≤ x ≤ a, y ≤ y1 ( x), y1 ( x) ≥ 0

Finally, the extension (restriction) of the surface (11)

with respect to both xOz and yOz planes has the equation

z = H ( x , y , f 0 ( x ), g 0 ( y ), f1 ( x ), g1 ( y ))
(25)
x ≤ a, y ≤ y1 ( x ), y1 ( x ) ≥ 0

Next we consider some particular case of the equation

(11) extended in the form (25).

Fig. 2 Ellipses, locus of the parabolic points for different values

of the real parameter α.

From this figure one deduces that for

 h   h 
α ∈  − ∞,− 2  U  2 , ∞  the all points of blending
 4a   2a 
surface (16) are of hyperbolic type.
In the special case α=0, β =0, from (12) results

f 0 (x ) = (a − x )
h
a Fig. 3 Blending surfaces corresponding to the curves (26), with,
and a = b = 15; h = 12; α = β = 0,05;
k1 = k2 = 0; m = 1; n = 2; c1 = 1; c2 = -1; c3 = 1/2;
g0 (y) = (b − y )
h
c4 = -1/2; c5 = c6 =0
b
and the corresponding blending surface has the equation

z=
h
(a − x )(b − y ) (22)
ab
which represents a hyperbolic paraboloid so, all its points
are of hyperbolic type.

3. EXTENSIONS OF THE BLENDING SURFACE

(11)

Extension (restriction) of the blending surface (11) by

symmetry with respect to yOz plane is represented by the
equation

z = H ( x , y, f o ( x ), g 0 ( y ), f1 ( x ), g1 ( y )) Fig. 4 Blending surfaces corresponding to the curves (27), with

a = b = 15; h = 14; α = β = 0,05;
0 ≤ y ≤ y1 ( x )
(23)
x ≤ a, k3 = 1/4; k4 = 1/5; m = 2; n = 1; c5 = 1; c6 = 1;
p = 2; q = 1

In the Figures 3 and 4 are represented the blending

surfaces corresponding to the following set of functions:

JUNE 2009  NUMBER 5 JIDEG 29

Study on the generation of some blending surfaces

[4] Coman G., Gânscă I., (1983), An applications of

 h blending interpolation. Itinerant Seminar of
f 0 ( x ) =  αx − ( x − a ) functional equations, approximation and convexity,
 a Cluj-Napoca, Preprint nr.7, pp. 29-34.
2mπx 2mπx [5] Coman G., Gânscă I., (1986), Some practical
f1 ( x) = k1 + c1 sin + c2 sin applications of blending interpolation. Itinerant
a a Seminar of functional equations, approximation and
convexity, Cluj-Napoca, Preprint nr.7, pp.75-82.
 h
g 0 ( y ) =  β y − ( y − b ) (26) [6] Coman G., Gânscă I. and Ţâmbulea L., (1989), Some
 b practical applications of blending approximation III,
Itinerant Seminar of Functional Equations,
2nπy 2nπy
g1 ( y ) = k 2 + c3 sin + c4 sin Approximation and Convexity, Cluj-Napoca, Preprint
b b nr.7, pp. 5-22.
[7] Coman G., Gânscă I. and Ţâmbulea L., (1991), Some
2 pπx 2qπx
y1 ( x ) = b + c5 sin + c6 sin new roof-surfaces generated by blending
a a interpolation technique, STUDIA, Univ. “Babeş-
and Bolyai”, Mathematica, XXXVI, 1, pp. 119-130.
[8] Coons S.A. (1964) Surfaces for computer aided
 h
f 0 ( x) =  αx − ( x − a ) design of space forms. Project MAC< Design Div.
 a Department of Mechanical Engineering, MIT.
[9] Gânscă I. and Coman G., (1981), Aproximare
a − a − 2x blending cu aplicatii in constructii. Buletinul
f1 ( x) = k3 h Stiintific al Institutului Politehnic Cluj-Napoca, 24,
a
pp. 35-40.
 h
g 0 ( y ) =  βy − ( y − b ) (27) [10] Gordon W.J. (1971), Blending- function methods of
 b bivariate and multivariate interpolation and
approximation. SIAM J.Numer.Anull.8, pp. 158-177.
b − b − 2y [11] Hosaka M., (1992), Modeling of Curves and
g1 ( y ) = k4h Surfacesin CAD/CAM, Springer-Verlag, Berlin,
b
Heidelberg, New York.
2 pπx 2qπx
y1 ( x) = b + c5 sin + c6 sin [12] Mihailescu, M. and Horvath, I., (1977), Velaroidal
a a Shell for Covering Universal Industrial Halls, Acta
Technica Academiae Scientiarum Hungarical, 85, 1-
2, pp.135-145.
REFERENCES
[13] Schumaker L.L.,(1976), Fitting surfaces to scattered
[1] Barnhill, R. E., (1975), Blending Function Inter- data.In Approximation Theory II (ed. By G.C.
polation: A survey and some new results, Proceedings Lorenz, C.K.Chui and LL Schumaker), Academic
Press Inc., pp.203-268.
of the Conference on Numerical Methods in
Approximation Theory, Oberwolfach,, ISNN 30,
pp.43-90, University of Dundee Numerical Analysis
Report No.9, Germany. Authors:
Eng. Florin Drăgan, Ph. D., Reader, Technical
[2] Barnhill, R. E., (1977), Representation and
University of Cluj-Napoca, Faculty of Electrical
Approximation of Surfaces, Mathematical Software
III, Academic press, Inc. New York, San Francisco, Engineering, E-mail: florind@mas.utcluj.ro
London, 1977, pp. 69-120. Eng. Raluca Nerişanu, Assistent, Technical University
of Cluj-Napoca, Faculty of Civil Engineering, E-mail:
[3] Farin, G., (1990), Curves and Surfaces for Computer
Aided Geometric Design, Academic Press, Inc. Raluca.Nerisanu@ggi.utcluj.ro
Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Publishers, Boston, San Eng. Delia Drăgan, Ph. D., Professor, Technical
Diego, New York, London, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto. University of Cluj-Napoca, Faculty of Civil Engineering,
E-mail: Delia.Dragan@ggi.utcluj.ro

30 JUNE 2009  NUMBER 5 JIDEG