On spaces of infinitesimal motions and three dimensional Henneberg extensions (Q2249480)

Let \(G=(V,E)\) be a simple finite graph and let \(n\) and \(k\) be positive integers, and suppose that \(X\subset V\) with \(|X|=n+k\) and \(F\subset E(X)\) with \(|F| = k\). Let's form a new graph \(G'\) by deleting all the edges in \(F\) and adding a new vertex of degree \(n+k\) that is adjacent to all the vertices of \(X\). Such \(G'\) is called an \(n\)-dimensional Henneberg \(k\)-extension of \(G\) that is supported on the vertex set \(X\) and the edge set \(F\). The author investigates the infinitesimal dynamic properties of rigid frameworks whose underlying graphs admit Henneberg 2-extensions which are not generically rigid. The study is motivated by the following Conjecture of J. Graver, T.-S. Tay, and W. Whiteley which still remains open: Let \(G=(V,E)\) be a generically 3-isostatic graph and suppose that \(X\) is a subset of \(V\) such that \(|X|=5\). Let \(e\) and \(f\) be distinct edges whose vertices are in \(X\). Suppose that \(G-\{e,f\}\) does not contain any implied \(K_4\) whose vertices are a subset of \(X\). Then the Henneberg extension that removes \(e\) and \(f\) and adjoins a vertex with neighbor set \(X\) results in a generically 3-rigid graph. Here an implied \(K_4\) is a set of implied edges of \(G\) that form a complete graph on 4 vertices and an edge \(ij\) with vertices \(i\) and \(j\) of \(G\), is an implied edge in three dimensions if any flex of a generic three dimensional framework based on \(G\) is an infinitesimal isometry of the set of points corresponding to \(\{i,j\}\). As an application of the main result of the paper under review, the author proves the above Conjecture in the case where \(|E(X)|\geq 7\) and, thus, obtains a generalization of a result from Section 5.5 of the book [\textit{J. Graver} et al., Combinatorial rigidity. Providence, RI: American Mathematical Society (1993; Zbl 0788.05001)].