of spline and catenary

[Ron Nossaman]

>But your question remains unanswered: just what kind of curve results from
>this bending technique, and what are the implications of ribs with such a
>curvature?
>
>Terry Farrell

I wasn't worried about the performance effects from a rib made this way. I 
doubt that any difference is detectable audibly from ribs curved by 
constant radius, parabola, or catenary. I do find it curious that the curve 
described by the bend doesn't seem to have a name. There is math describing 
it, in the formula for finding the deflection at a given point on a center 
loaded  end supported beam. Considering how many drawings have been 
produced through many many years by bending a wooden spline between points 
to describe a curve, I would have thought the curve would have a name. It 
doesn't seem to.

Ron N