Transfinite interpolation explained

In numerical analysis, transfinite interpolation is a means to construct functions over a planar domain in such a way that they match a given function on the boundary. This method is applied in geometric modelling and in the field of finite element method.

The transfinite interpolation method, first introduced by William J. Gordon and Charles A. Hall, receives its name due to how a function belonging to this class is able to match the primitive function at a nondenumerable number of points.In the authors' words:

Transfinite interpolation is similar to the Coons patch, invented in 1967. ^[1]

Formula

With parametrized curves

\vec{c} _{1(u)} , \vec{c} _{3(u)} describing one pair of opposite sides of a domain, and\vec{c} _{2(v)} , \vec{c} _{4(v)} describing the other pair. the position of point (u,v) in the domain is\begin{array}{rcl} \vec{S}(u,v)& = &( 1- v)\vec{c} _{1(u)+v\vec{c}} _{3(u)+(1-u)\vec{c}} _{2(v)+u\vec{c}} _{4(v)\\ &&} - \left[ ( 1- u)( 1- v)\vec{P} _{1,2} + uv\vec{P} _{3,4} + u( 1- v)\vec{P} _{1,4} + ( 1- u)v\vec{P} _{3,2} \right] \end{array}

where, e.g.,

\vec{P} _{1,2} is the point where curves \vec{c} _{1} and \vec{c} _{2} meet.

References

1. Steven A. Coons, Surfaces for computer-aided design of space forms, Technical Report MAC-TR-41, Project MAC, MIT, June 1967.

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