Unit -III
Surface Modeling
Surface Modeling
Surface modeling is more sophisticated than wireframe modeling in that it
defines not only the edges of a 3D object, but also its surfaces.
Surface model wide application is in manufacturing forging, casting and
moulded products.
A surface model is generated by using wireframe entities or curves as the basis to
create surface entities.
Surface model is bounded by faces or surface.
Surface model of an object is a more complete and less ambiguous representation
than its wire frame model
Advantages of surface modeling
1. The complex objects such as automotive bodies, aircraft bodies, ship bodies,
castings and dies which can not be modeled by wireframe modeling can be
effectively modeled by surface modeling.
2. The surface model provide good visualization as compared to the wire frame
models.
3. Provide hidden line and surface algorithm
4. The surface model of an object is more complete and less ambiguous and than its
wire frame model.
5. With the surface model, it is possible to calculate the properties such as mass
and volume.
6. Surface models are suitable for engg. Applications such as Finite element
modeling.
7. Shading of an object is possible in surface modeling.
Limitations of surface modeling
1. The surface models are more complex and hence require more CPU time and
computer memory for storage.
2. The surface modeling require more training and mathematical background.
3. Surface modeling can not create the internal section details etc.
4. Require unnecessary manipulations than wire frame modeling.
SURFACE ENTITIES
1.Analytic Surface.- which are defined by the Types of surfaces:
analytical equation are known as analytic 1. Planar surface
surfaces. 2. Curved surface
e.g – Plane surface, ruled surface, surface of i. Single curved surface
revolution, tabulated surface. ii. Double curved surface
iii. Ruled surface
iv. Lofted Surfaces
2.Synthetic Surfaces.- which are defined by set of
3. Free Form Surfaces
points is known as synthetic surfaces.
i. Coons surface
these are represented by polynomials.
ii. Bezier curves
e.g- Bezier surfaces, B-spline Surface, Coons
iii. B – Splines
Patch, Fillet Surface and offset surface
iv. Surface Fillet
v. Tweaking
Planar surface:-
This is the simplest surface.
it require three non- coincident points to define an infinite plane.
It is flat 2D Surface.
It is most basic surface entity
Ruled surface:-
It is a surface constructed by transitioning between two or more curves by using linear
blending between each section of the surface.
A ruled surface is a linear surface and is created by linearly interpolating between the
boundary surface.
Corresponding end points of two boundary curves are joined by straight lines and the
surface in between is obtained by linear interpolation.
Lofted surface:-
It is a surface constructed by transitioning between two or more curves by a smooth i.e.
higher order blending between each section of the surface.
Used for modeling engine manifolds, turbine blades etc.
Curved surface (Surface of revolution):- This is an axisymmetric surface generated by
rotating a planar wireframe entity in space about the axis of symmetry through a certain
angle. It is an axi-symmetric surface that can model axi-symmetric objects.
Single Curved Surface: it is a simple surface, can be generated by a straight line
revolved around an axis such as cylindrical surface. Ex: surfaces of pyramids and
conics.
Double Curved Surface: it is a complex surface, can not be generated by a straight
line but curve revolved around an axis. Ex: spherical, ellipsoid and hyperboloid
surfaces.
Tabulated surface. This is a surface generated by translating a planar curve a certain
distance along a specified direction (axis of the cylinder).
Plane of the curve is perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder.
It is used to generate surfaces that have identical curved cross-sections.
Bezier surface:
This is a surface that approximates given input data.
Similarly to the Bezier curve, it does not pass through all given data points but control
by data points.
Control points are connected by dashed lines and solid lines shows the curves of the
surface.
B-spline surface:
This is a surface that can approximate or interpolate given input data. It is a synthetic
surface.
It is a general surface like the Bezier surface but with the advantage of permitting
local control of the surface.
Coon patch:
The coon patch is the surface patch created by using the curves that forms the closed
boundaries.
Coons patch or surface is obtained by blending four boundary curves.
The single patch can be extended in both the directions by adding further patches.
The blending of these patches can be done either by means of linear or cubic
blending functions, thereby giving rise to a smooth surface linking all the
patches.
Fillet Surfaces:
The radius could be uniform or vary linearly, depending upon the meshing
surfaces.
A fillet surface is the blend of two surfaces which intersect each other, if required
a fillet of specified radius provide at the intersection.
Offset Surface:
An Existing surface can be used to create new identical surfaces, but with different
dimensions by giving the offset.
Tweaking:
The ability to alter a model already created.
A face or a vertex in the model would be interactively moved to see the effect in
the modification of the geometry.
Representation of surfaces
1. Non –Parametric Representation- In this representation each point on surface are
expressed by relationship between x,y,z.
2. Parametric Representation
In this each point on surface is expressed as function of independent parameter u & v. The
parameter u & v acts as local coordinates for points on the surface or patch.
P(u, v) = (x(u, v), y(u, v), z(u, v))
Surfaces are the set of rectangular or triangular patches (mathematical element to create a
composite)
Representation of surfaces
Parametric Bi-cubic surface:
The parametric bi-cubic surface patch connects four corner data points and
utilizes a bi-cubic equation.
16 vector conditions or 48 scalar conditions are required to find the co-
efficient of the equations.
A Hermite bi-cubic surface patch results with
Four corner data points
Eight tangent vectors at corner points.
Four twist vectors
Therefore the bi-cubic equation can be written as:
These 16 polynomials in u and v defines the set of all points lying on the
patch and it is the expanded algebraic form of the bi-cubic Hermit patch
Parametric Bi-cubic surface:
In the matrix form:
P( u, v ) = U T [ C] V ------- 1.3
Where 0≤u ≤1, 0 ≤v ≤1
T
Parametric Bi-cubic surface:
By applying boundary conditions in to equation 1.3 and rearranging give the
following final equation of Bi cubic patch
P( u, v ) = U T [ MH ] [ B ] [MH ] T V ------- 1.4
Where 0≤u ≤1, 0 ≤v ≤1
B is the geometry or boundary condition matrix
[P], [Pu], [Pv] and [Puv] are the sub matrices of the corner points, corner u tangent
vectors, corner v tangent vectors and corner twist vectors
Parametric Bezier Surface:
When the Bezier curve is extended in to parametric directions u and v results in
to a Bezier surface.
The surface equation of a Bezier curve can be written as:
----- 2.1
• Where, P( u, v ) is any point on the surface
and Pij are the control points.
• These points form the vertices of the control
polyhedron of the resulting Bezier surface.
• A 4 X 5 order Bezier surface is as shown in
figure:
Parametric B-Spline Surface:
B-spline surface can approximate or interpolate the vertices of the polyhedron.
The degree of the surface is independent of the number of control points and
continuity is automatically maintained through out the surface by virtue of
blending functions.
A B-spline surface patch defined by an (n+1) X(m+1) array of control points
is given by:
B-Spline surface have the same characteristics as B-spline curve. Their major
advantage over Bezier surface is local control.
Composite B-spline surface can be generated with C0 / C1 continuity in the
same way as composite Bezier surface.
