Using Algebra to Detect Flexible Positions of Bar and Joint Frameworks in the Plane

dc.contributorSt. John, Audrey
dc.contributorDavidoff, Giulianna
dc.contributor.advisorSidman, Jessica
dc.contributor.authorFry, Dana
dc.date.accessioned2015-07-01T13:56:35Z
dc.date.available2015-07-01T13:56:35Z
dc.date.gradyear2015en_US
dc.date.issued2015-07-01
dc.description.abstractBar and joint rigidity theory in the plane is the study of frameworks and their embeddings into two-dimensional space. Rigidity theory in the plane is concerned with deciding whether a given planar embedding of a framework will be rigid or will allow motion about one or more of its joints. There are some frameworks that are generically rigid, but at certain special positions are flexible, and vice versa. In this thesis we convert graphical frameworks into algebraic systems of polynomial equations in variables and parameters where the parameters control edge lengths and the variables locate each vertex in the plane. However, some parameter values will yield different sets of points satisfying our equations and we may thus end up with some embeddings that are rigid and others that are flexible. In this thesis we use Groebner covers as in automatic geometric theorem proving to find conditions under which generically rigid frameworks are flexible. We show how we can combine Groebner covers and rigidity theory to explore special positions of three frameworks under particular assumptions.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipMathematics & Statisticsen_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10166/3682
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.rights.restrictedrestricteden_US
dc.subjectalgebraen_US
dc.subjectrigidity theoryen_US
dc.subjectbar and jointen_US
dc.subjectspecial positionsen_US
dc.titleUsing Algebra to Detect Flexible Positions of Bar and Joint Frameworks in the Planeen_US
dc.typeThesis
mhc.degreeUndergraduateen_US
mhc.institutionMount Holyoke College

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