Rational curves and isoparametric transformations (Q1091742)

The purpose of the paper is the development of suitable parametrizations of rational boundary curves that can be used by finite element methods to do all the required calculations on simpler straight-edged elements. The authors construct quadratic rational projective transformations that map a standard triangle onto an element with two straight sides and one curved side. These transformations keep two sides of the triangle pointwise invariant; they imply parametrizations of the curved side in a systematic way. In the particular case where the curved side is a parabola, the transformations revert to the quadratic isoparametric transformations. Finally basis functions are associated with the transformations (their construction is illustrated with two examples).