Introduction to the Mathematical Concepts of CATIA V5

Student Notes:

CATIA V5 Training
Foils

Introduction to the
Mathematical
Concepts of CATIA
V5
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Version 5 Release 19
January 2009
EDU_CAT_EN_MTH_FF_V5R19

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 Introduction to the Mathematical Concepts of CATIA V5

About this course

Student Notes:

Objectives of the course

Upon completion of this course you will be able to:
- Understand the mathematical concepts for curve and surface
definition in CATIA V5.

Targeted audience
GSD and/or FreeStyle users

Prerequisites
Students attending this course must have knowledge of GSD and
FreeStyle Fundamentals

4 hours
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 Introduction to the Mathematical Concepts of CATIA V5

Student Notes:
Table of Contents

The Feature Approach 4

The Mathematical Level 6
The Geometry Level for Curves 7
The Geometry Level for Surfaces 13
Object Analysis 18
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 Introduction to the Mathematical Concepts of CATIA V5

Student Notes:
The Feature Approach (1/2)

CATIA V5 supports a FEATURE APPROACH.

It means that users create and handle objects which are more than
mathematical objects because they carry more than just mathematical
definitions.

The mathematical definition of the object is no more than one of the

representations of the feature which CATIA may refer to when needed.
For example, another representation of a surface in CATIA V5 is its triangular
mesh used for shaded display or draft analysis.
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 Introduction to the Mathematical Concepts of CATIA V5

Student Notes:
The Feature Approach (2/2)

FEATURE

ASSOCIATIVITY ATTRIBUTES MATHEMATICAL

INFORMATION INFORMATION

-parents -display attributes: -geometrical information

color, equations, points,
-creation operator
layer, vectors
-children visibility, …
… …
-topological information
-applicative attributes: vertices, edges, faces,
material, orientations,
physical properties, …
tolerances
…
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Note: a Datum is a feature with no parents nor creation operator in the

asociativity information (it may only have children)

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 Introduction to the Mathematical Concepts of CATIA V5

Student Notes:
The Mathematical Level

The mathematical part of the object definition includes both geometry and
topology.

The geometry defines the shape itself and its location in space,
The geometry is defined by mathematical objects such as points, vectors,
angles, polynomials, …

The topology ensures the consistent assembly of the geometrical elements

(connections, orientations)
It is defined by mathematical objects such as vertices, edges, faces
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 Introduction to the Mathematical Concepts of CATIA V5

Student Notes:
The Geometry Level for Curves (1/6)

Curves are described by canonic or parametric forms

Examples of canonic forms

Line defined by:
-An underlying surface (may be a plane)
Dir U
Dir V End -An origin point
-A direction on underlying surface
Start -A start position
-An end position
Circle defined by:
End
-underlying surface
-center
Start -radius
Center -start angle Canonic forms
-end angle • are compact (little data)
• are exact
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• make it easy to benefit from the

characteristics of the object (example:
select a line to define a direction)

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 Introduction to the Mathematical Concepts of CATIA V5

Student Notes:
The Geometry Level for Curves (2/6)

Other types of curves: parametric curves = NURBS

NURBS = Non-Uniform Rational B-Spline

Non-Uniform
A NURBS curve may be described by several arcs, or spans, or
segments. Each segment is described by a parametric form: it
u1 u4 has its own set of parametric representations, for example
segment number i:

u3 X = FXi(ui)
u2
Y = FYi(ui) Note: the segments cannot be separated
Z = FZi(ui) by the Disassemble command.

+ possibility to describe more complex shapes with single objects 3

- segmentation tends to explode if not controlled
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2
2 2 3
2

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 Introduction to the Mathematical Concepts of CATIA V5

Student Notes:
The Geometry Level for Curves (3/6)

NURBS = Non-Uniform Rational B-Spline

Pxi(ui)
Rational Each segment is described by a rational form X = FXi(ui) =
Q xi(ui)
u1 u4 With Pxi(ui) and Q xi(ui) being polymomials,
i.e. mathematical forms such as:
u3 Pxi(u) = A0 + A1.u + A2.u2 + … + An.un
u2
NURBS created in CATIA V5 are usually polynomial, Q (u) =1
this is why they are called NUPBS (P for Polynomial)

+ possibility to describe exact conics, for example a circle can be given by:
Y
X =R 1- u 2 Y =R 2u 2
2
… but canonic forms are also exact
1+ u 1+ u R X
- degrees tend to explode if not controlled P1(u) P2(u)
example: ruled surface on two curves given by and
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Q 1(u) Q 2(u)
P1(u) P2(u) (1-v) P1(u) Q2(u) + v P2(u) Q1(u)
S(u,v) = (1-v) +v = degrees of polynomials add
Q 1(u) Q 2(u) Q1(u) Q 2(u)

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 Introduction to the Mathematical Concepts of CATIA V5

Student Notes:
The Geometry Level for Curves (4/6)

NURBS = Non-Uniform Rational B-Spline

B-Splines

The definition of a B-Spline curves includes the

u1 u4 description of the transitions between its segments.

u3 Note: in CATIA V5, NURBS are always internally

u2
curvature continuous,
= transitions between segments are always C2.

+ possibility to safely manipulate complex objects, for example to deform complex curves
while preserving their overall smoothness (no unexpected gap or sharp corner appearing)
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- It may be difficult manipulate the curve while keeping it good

looking (example: deform by control points while keeping a
nice curvature distribution)

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 Introduction to the Mathematical Concepts of CATIA V5

Student Notes:
The Geometry Level for Curves (5/6)

Note 1: the polygonal representation

A NURBS can be represented by a polygon

= a set of control points
This representation is often used in style design for
intuitive shaping

Note 2: a special case of NURBS

A NURBS can be uniform (only one segment)

It can also be polynomial (Q xi(ui) = 1)

This type of curves is known as Bezier curve

It is favored by style designers because it is easier to
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manipulate (fewer points, well known properties)

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 Introduction to the Mathematical Concepts of CATIA V5

Student Notes:
The Geometry Level for Curves (6/6)

General validity criteria for curves:

A mono-cell curve must be C2 continuous, i.e. mathematically curvature

continuous.
It means that if an action produces a curve that is not C2 continuous, it is
cut at each discontinuity and the C2 pieces become cells which are called
edges and are assembled in a topology.
The topology consists in a list of edges with shared vertices (common to
several edges) and free vertices (common to one edge only = end points).

Example: the boundary feature is a single CATIA

curve which is not C2 continuous.
This CATIA curve is made of several C2 continuous
curves called edges that are assembled by
a topology (joined).
The edges may be isolated from each
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other by an Extract or a Disassemble command

(option All Cells).

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 Introduction to the Mathematical Concepts of CATIA V5

Student Notes:
The Geometry Level for Surfaces (1/5)

Surfaces can also described by canonic or parametric forms

Some surfaces can also be described by their creation process
Since R14 CATIA V5 also handles subdivision surfaces
Examples of canonical surfaces:

Plane

Cone

Sphere

Cylinder

Torus
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 Introduction to the Mathematical Concepts of CATIA V5

Student Notes:
The Geometry Level for Surfaces (2/5)

Procedural surfaces
A procedural surface is described by a creation process and the corresponding
input

Examples of procedural surfaces:

Offset surface
defined by a surface + a distance

Tabulated cylinder
defined by a curve, a direction, two lengths
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Linear transformation surface

defined by a surface and a geometric transformation

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 Introduction to the Mathematical Concepts of CATIA V5

Student Notes:
The Geometry Level for Surfaces (3/5)

Parametric surfaces = NURBS

The definition for surfaces is similar to the definition for curves

(u1,v1) with 2 parameters: surfaces may be described by several
segments (Non Uniform), each segment is described by a
(u2,v2) rational form (Rational), but surfaces can be handled globally
thanks to B-Spline techniques.

(u3,v3) Pxi(ui ,vi)

X = FXi(ui,vi) =
Q xi(ui ,vi)
Y = FYi(ui,vi)
Z = FZi(ui,Vi)

Notes:
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- NURBS created in CATIA V5 are usually (almost always) polynomials (NUPS)

- they are always curvature continuous (C2),
- NURBS surfaces can be represented and handled by control points,
- uniform polynomial NURBS are known as Bezier patches

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 Introduction to the Mathematical Concepts of CATIA V5

Student Notes:
The Geometry Level for Surfaces (4/5) Imagine
& Shape

Subdivision surfaces
Subdivision is an algorithmic technique to generate smooth surfaces as a
sequence of successively refined polyhedral meshes.

Advantages:
A complex object can be represented with only one multi-faced surface
The surface is refined only where required (details)
=> Easy manipulation + Data size reduced
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 Introduction to the Mathematical Concepts of CATIA V5

Student Notes:
The Geometry Level for Surfaces (5/5)

General validity criteria for surfaces:

A mono-cell surface must be C2 continuous.

It means that if an action produces a result that is not C2 continuous, it is

cut at each discontinuity and the C2 pieces become cells which are called
faces and are assembled in a topology.

Example: the sweep feature is a single surface

which is not C2 continuous (not even C1 in this case).
It is made of several C2 continuous faces that
are assembled by a topology (joined).
The geometric surfaces may be isolated from each
other by a Disassemble command (option All Cells).
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 Introduction to the Mathematical Concepts of CATIA V5

Student Notes:
Object Analysis

FreeStyle offers tools to analyze objects.

Dress-up options: applicable to NURBS Geometry analysis: applicable to all curves
curves and surfaces only and surfaces
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