arXiv subjects

Bernd Schulze

Publications and source records attributed to Bernd Schulze.

46 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2014

Infinitesimal Rigidity of Symmetric Frameworks

We propose new symmetry-adapted rigidity matrices to analyze the infinitesimal rigidity of arbitrary-dimensional bar-joint frameworks with Abelian point group symmetries. These matrices define new symmetry-adapted rigidity matroids on group-labeled quotient graphs. Using these new tools, we establish combinatorial characterizations of infinitesimally rigid two-dimensional bar-joint frameworks whose joints are positioned as generic as possible subject to the symmetry constraints imposed by a reflection, a half-turn or a three-fold rotation in the plane. For bar-joint frameworks which are generic with respect to any other cyclic point group in the plane, we provide a number of necessary conditions for infinitesimal rigidity.

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arXiv2014

Linking Rigid Bodies Symmetrically

The mathematical theory of rigidity of body-bar and body-hinge frameworks provides a useful tool for analyzing the rigidity and flexibility of many articulated structures appearing in engineering, robotics and biochemistry. In this paper we develop a symmetric extension of this theory which permits a rigidity analysis of body-bar and body-hinge structures with point group symmetries. The infinitesimal rigidity of body-bar frameworks can naturally be formulated in the language of the exterior (or Grassmann) algebra. Using this algebraic formulation, we derive symmetry-adapted rigidity matrices to analyze the infinitesimal rigidity of body-bar frameworks with Abelian point group symmetries in an arbitrary dimension. In particular, from the patterns of these new matrices, we derive combinatorial characterizations of infinitesimally rigid body-bar frameworks which are generic with respect to a point group of the form $\mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z}\times \dots \times \mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z}$. Our characterizations are given in terms of packings of bases of signed-graphic matroids on quotient graphs. Finally, we also extend our methods and results to body-hinge frameworks with Abelian point group symmetries in an arbitrary dimension. As special cases of these results, we obtain combinatorial characterizations of infinitesimally rigid body-hinge frameworks with $\mathcal{C}_2$ or $\mathcal{D}_2$ symmetry - the most common symmetry groups found in proteins.

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arXiv2011

Coning, symmetry and spherical frameworks

In this paper, we combine separate works on (a) the transfer of infinitesimal rigidity results from an Euclidean space to the next higher dimension by coning, (b) the further transfer of these results to spherical space via associated rigidity matrices, and (c) the prediction of finite motions from symmetric infinitesimal motions at regular points of the symmetry-derived orbit rigidity matrix. Each of these techniques is reworked and simplified to apply across several metrics, including the Minkowskian metric $\M^{d}$ and the hyperbolic metric $\H^{d}$. This leads to a set of new results transferring infinitesimal and finite motions associated with corresponding symmetric frameworks among $\E^{d}$, cones in $E^{d+1}$, $\SS^{d}$, $\M^{d}$, and $\H^{d}$. We also consider the further extensions associated with the other Cayley-Klein geometries overlaid on the shared underlying projective geometry.

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arXiv2011

Finite motions from periodic frameworks with added symmetry

Recent work from authors across disciplines has made substantial contributions to counting rules (Maxwell type theorems) which predict when an infinite periodic structure would be rigid or flexible while preserving the periodic pattern, as an engineering type framework, or equivalently, as an idealized molecular framework. Other work has shown that for finite frameworks, introducing symmetry modifies the previous general counts, and under some circumstances this symmetrized Maxwell type count can predict added finite flexibility in the structure. In this paper we combine these approaches to present new Maxwell type counts for the columns and rows of a modified orbit matrix for structures that have both a periodic structure and additional symmetry within the periodic cells. In a number of cases, this count for the combined group of symmetry operations demonstrates there is added finite flexibility in what would have been rigid when realized without the symmetry. Given that many crystal structures have these added symmetries, and that their flexibility may be key to their physical and chemical properties, we present a summary of the results as a way to generate further developments of both a practical and theoretic interest.

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arXiv2010

The orbit rigidity matrix of a symmetric framework

A number of recent papers have studied when symmetry causes frameworks on a graph to become infinitesimally flexible, or stressed, and when it has no impact. A number of other recent papers have studied special classes of frameworks on generically rigid graphs which are finite mechanisms. Here we introduce a new tool, the orbit matrix, which connects these two areas and provides a matrix representation for fully symmetric infinitesimal flexes, and fully symmetric stresses of symmetric frameworks. The orbit matrix is a true analog of the standard rigidity matrix for general frameworks, and its analysis gives important insights into questions about the flexibility and rigidity of classes of symmetric frameworks, in all dimensions. With this narrower focus on fully symmetric infinitesimal motions, comes the power to predict symmetry-preserving finite mechanisms - giving a simplified analysis which covers a wide range of the known mechanisms, and generalizes the classes of known mechanisms. This initial exploration of the properties of the orbit matrix also opens up a number of new questions and possible extensions of the previous results, including transfer of symmetry based results from Euclidean space to spherical, hyperbolic, and some other metrics with shared symmetry groups and underlying projective geometry.

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arXiv2009

Symmetry as a sufficient condition for a finite flex

We show that if the joints of a bar and joint framework $(G,p)$ are positioned as `generically' as possible subject to given symmetry constraints and $(G,p)$ possesses a `fully-symmetric' infinitesimal flex (i.e., the velocity vectors of the infinitesimal flex remain unaltered under all symmetry operations of $(G,p)$), then $(G,p)$ also possesses a finite flex which preserves the symmetry of $(G,p)$ throughout the path. This and other related results are obtained by symmetrizing techniques described by L. Asimov and B. Roth in their paper `The Rigidity Of Graphs' from 1978 and by using the fact that the rigidity matrix of a symmetric framework can be transformed into a block-diagonalized form by means of group representation theory. The finite flexes that can be detected with these symmetry-based methods can in general not be found with the analogous non-symmetric methods.

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arXiv2009

Symmetric versions of Laman's Theorem

Recent work has shown that if an isostatic bar and joint framework possesses non-trivial symmetries, then it must satisfy some very simply stated restrictions on the number of joints and bars that are `fixed' by various symmetry operations of the framework. For the group $C_3$ which describes 3-fold rotational symmetry in the plane, we verify the conjecture proposed in [4] that these restrictions on the number of fixed structural components, together with the Laman conditions, are also sufficient for a framework with $C_3$ symmetry to be isostatic, provided that its joints are positioned as generically as possible subject to the given symmetry constraints. In addition, we establish symmetric versions of Henneberg's Theorem and Crapo's Theorem for $C_3$ which provide alternate characterizations of `generically' isostatic graphs with $C_3$ symmetry. As shown in [19], our techniques can be extended to establish analogous results for the symmetry groups $C_2$ and $C_s$ which are generated by a half-turn and a reflection in the plane, respectively.

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arXiv2009

Block-diagonalized rigidity matrices of symmetric frameworks and applications

In this paper, we give a complete self-contained proof that the rigidity matrix of a symmetric bar and joint framework (as well as its transpose) can be transformed into a block-diagonalized form using techniques from group representation theory. This theorem is basic to a number of useful and interesting results concerning the rigidity and flexibility of symmetric frameworks. As an example, we use this theorem to prove a generalization of the Fowler-Guest symmetry extension of Maxwell's rule which can be applied to both injective and non-injective realizations in all dimensions.

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arXiv2008

When is a symmetric pin-jointed framework isostatic?

Maxwell's rule from 1864 gives a necessary condition for a framework to be isostatic in 2D or in 3D. Given a framework with point group symmetry, group representation theory is exploited to provide further necessary conditions. This paper shows how, for an isostatic framework, these conditions imply very simply stated restrictions on the numbers of those structural components that are unshifted by the symmetry operations of the framework. In particular, it turns out that an isostatic framework in 2D can belong to one of only six point groups. Some conjectures and initial results are presented that would give sufficient conditions (in both 2D and 3D) for a framework that is realized generically for a given symmetry group to be an isostatic framework.

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arXiv2008

Injective and non-injective realizations with symmetry

In this paper, we introduce a natural classification of bar and joint frameworks that possess symmetry. This classification establishes the mathematical foundation for extending a variety of results in rigidity, as well as infinitesimal or static rigidity, to frameworks that are realized with certain symmetries and whose joints may or may not be embedded injectively in the space. In particular, we introduce a symmetry-adapted notion of `generic' frameworks with respect to this classification and show that `almost all' realizations in a given symmetry class are generic and all generic realizations in this class share the same infinitesimal rigidity properties. Within this classification we also clarify under what conditions group representation theory techniques can be applied to further analyze the rigidity properties of a (not necessarily injective) symmetric realization.

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