Determination and (re)parametrization of rational developable surfaces

Abstract

The developable surface is an important surface in computer aided design, geometric modeling and industrial manufactory. It is often given in the standard parametric form, but it can also be in the implicit form which is commonly used in algebraic geometry. Not all algebraic developable surfaces have rational parametrizations. In this paper, the authors focus on the rational developable surfaces. For a given algebraic surface, the authors first determine whether it is developable by geometric inspection, and then give a rational proper parametrization in the affirmative case. For a rational parametric surface, the authors also determine the developability and give a proper reparametrization for the developable surface.