Elastic Curves and Euler–Bernoulli Constrained Beams from the Perspective of Geometric Algebra

Dimiter Prodanov ()
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Dimiter Prodanov: Laboratory of Neurotechnology, PAML-LN, Institute for Information and Communication Technologies, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria

Mathematics, 2025, vol. 13, issue 16, 1-34

Abstract: Elasticity is a well-established field within mathematical physics, yet new formulations can provide deeper insight and computational advantages. This study explores the geometry of two- and three-dimensional elastic curves using the formalism of geometric algebra, offering a unified and coordinate-free approach. This work systematically derives the Frenet, Darboux, and Bishop frames within the three-dimensional geometric algebra and employs them to integrate the elastica equation. A concise Lagrangian formulation of the problem is introduced, enabling the identification of Noetherian, conserved, multi-vector moments associated with the elastic system. A particularly compact form of the elastica equation emerges when expressed in the Bishop frame, revealing structural simplifications and making the equations more amenable to analysis. Ultimately, the geometric algebra perspective uncovers a natural correspondence between the theory of free elastic curves and classical beam models, showing how constrained theories, such as Euler–Bernoulli and Kirchhoff beam formulations, arise as special cases. These results not only clarify foundational aspects of elasticity theory but also provide a framework for future applications in continuum mechanics and geometric modeling.

Keywords: geometric algebra; Clifford algebra; Bishop frame; Frenet frame; Darboux frame; Kirchhoff beam theory (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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