Mannheim-d'Ocagne-Koenderink type formulas for asymptotic directions

Abstract

We consider a surface embedded in the Euclidean 3-space and fix a tangential vector $v$ at a given point $p$ on the surface. In this paper, we first review a history of the formula obtained by Mannheim, d'Ocagne and Koenderink, which asserts that the Gaussian curvature of the surface at $p$ can be obtained if one knows "the normal curvature at $p$ with respect to $v$" and "the curvature of the contour line $L$ of the surface at $p$" with respect to the orthogonal projection induced by $v$. Unfortunately, this formula does not work when $v$ points in an asymptotic direction. When $v$ is just the case, we give anlogues of the formula, which include an invariant of cusp singular points of $L$.