Seashell surface

Seashell surface with parametrization on left
Wheel-like Star Shell Astralium calcar, Diameter 3,5 cm; Originating from the Philippines

In mathematics, a seashell surface is a surface made by a circle which spirals up the z-axis while decreasing its own radius and distance from the z-axis. Not all seashell surfaces describe actual seashells found in nature.

Parametrization

The following is a parameterization of one seashell surface:

\begin{align}
x & {} = \frac{5}{4}\left(1-\frac{v}{2\pi}\right)\cos(2v)(1+\cos u)+\cos 2v \\  \\
y & {} = \frac{5}{4}\left(1-\frac{v}{2\pi}\right)\sin(2v)(1+\cos u)+\sin 2v \\  \\
z & {} = \frac{10v}{2\pi}+\frac{5}{4}\left(1-\frac{v}{2\pi}\right)\sin(u)+15
\end{align}

where 0\le u<2\pi and -2\pi\le v <2\pi\\

Various authors have suggested different models for the shape of shell. David M. Raup proposed a model where there is one magnification for the x-y plane, and another for the x-z plane. Chris Illert[1] proposed a model where the magnification is scalar, and the same for any sense or direction with an equation like


\vec{F}\left( {\theta ,\varphi } \right) = e^{\alpha \varphi } \left( {\begin{array}{*{20}c}
   {\cos \left( \varphi  \right),} & { - \sin (\varphi ),} & {\rm{0}}  \\
   {\sin (\varphi ),} & {\cos \left( \varphi  \right),} & 0  \\
   {0,} & {{\rm{0,}}} & 1  \\
\end{array}} \right)\vec{F}\left( {\theta ,0} \right)

which starts with an initial generating curve \vec{F}\left( {\theta ,0} \right) and applies a rotation and exponential magnification.

See also

References

  1. Dr Chris Illert was awarded his Ph.D. on 26 September 2013 at the University of Western Sydney http://www.uws.edu.au/__data/assets/image/0004/547060/2013_ICS_Graduates.jpg. Enquiries about his work can be directed to the University of Wollongong via Michael Organ. http://www.uow.edu.au/~morgan
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