Surface design using functional blending (Q1201024)

The author studies the analytic geometry of a one-parameter family of surfaces given by \((1-p)\prod^{n_ 0}_{i=1}S_{i0}+p\prod^{n_ 1}_{i=0}S_{i1}=0\) and \(S_{ij}=0\) are given surfaces. More generally, he studies blending surfaces of the form \(S=\sum^{m- 1}_{j=0}B_ j(p)\prod^{n_ i}_{i=1}S_{ij}=0\), where the \(B_ j\) are Bernstein polynomials in the parameter \(p\). The main application is to the construction of surfaces that pass through a set of curves (cross-sections) that are given in parallel planes. The mathematical methods are quite simple and are presented explicitly to allow direct implementation of the method by the reader.