A convexity-preserving \(C^ 2\) parametric rational cubic interpolation (Q1195910)

A \(C^ 2\) parametric rational cubic interpolant \(r(t)=x(t)i+y(t)j\), \(t\in[t_ 1,t_ n]\) to data \(S=\{(x_ j,y_ j)\mid\) \(1,\dots,n\}\) is defined in terms of non-negative tension parameters \(\tau_ j\), \(j=1,\dots,n-1\). Let \(P\) be the polygonal line defined by the directed line segments joining the points \((x_ j,y_ j)\), \(j=1,\dots,n\). Sufficient conditions are derived which ensure that \(r(t)\) is a strictly convex function on strictly left/right winding polygonal line segments \(P\). It is then proved that there always exist \(\tau_ j\), \(j=1,\dots,n- 1\) for which \(r(t)\) preserves the local left/right winding properties of any polygonal line \(P\). An example application is discussed.