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Total torsion of closed lines of curvature

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 April 2009

Yong-An Qin
Affiliation:
Department of Mathematics, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China e-mail: [email protected]
Shi-Jie Li
Affiliation:
Department of Mathematics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631China e-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

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In this article we investigate the total torsion of closed lines of curvature on a surface in 3 and obtain the following results.

(1) The total torsion of a closed line of curvature on a surface is kπ where k is an integer. Conversely, if the total torsion of a closed curve is kπ for an integer k, then the curve can appear as a line of curvature on a surface. In particular, if the total torsion of a closed curve is 2kπ, then it can appear as a line of curvature on a closed, oriented surface of genus 1.

(2) The total torsion of a closed line of curvature on an ovaloid is zero.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Australian Mathematical Society 2002

References

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