How to interpret results from "Surface Curvature" component?

[simonnpro]

Hi all,

I want to evaluate a curved geometry to find the parts with the least curvature.
I have made a gradient of the curvature already, but I need to know how much the curvature is at various locations in the geometry. Therefore, I want to use the Surface Curvature component. However, the outcomes do not really make sense to me.

How do I interpret the Frame, Gaussian and Mean values of a surface curvature component?

[Joseph_Oster]

DUPLICATE THREAD

Find the curvature of a segment in the geometry

Hi all, I have a curved geometry and from this geometry I want to section panels that do not exceed a certain deviation. I want to cut out the panels as flat as possible. I first made a gradient of the curvature to see where the flat (white) parts are and then I made a box around two points and calculated the angle, which is the parameter that refers to the deviation. Now this box does (obviously) not box the other points on the surface, while eventually these points within the box range have…

[davidcockey]

Looks like related but not duplicate threads to me.

@simonnpro Frame is a plane related to the geometry of a surface at a point.
Gaussian and Mean values of curvature are simple scalar metrics of the curvature of a plane at a point.
The curvature of a surface at a point usually varies depending on which direction the curvature is measured.

The usual method for completely describing the curvature of a surface is the principal curvatures and a direction. As long as the curvature is continuous at a point there will be one direction where the curvature is the maximum (largest). In the direction perpendicular the curvature will be the minimum (smallest). These are the principal curvatures. Note that largest and smallest include signs. So if the two curvatures are 2 and -5 then 2 is the largest and -5 is the smallest. If the two curvatures are -3 and -6 then -3 is the largest and -6 is the smallest. Also note that some Rhino commands for principal curvatures, minimum and maximum curvatures only show the absolute values which can be confusing.

Mean curvature is the average value of the two principal curvatures.

Gaussian curvature is the product of the principal curvatures. A surface which is concave or convex will have positive Gaussian curvature. A surface which is developable (one of the principal curvatures is zero) will have zero Gaussian curvature. A surface which is anticlastic or saddle shaped will have negative Gaussian curvature.