Persistent rigid-body motions and study’s “Ribaucour” problem

In this work we show that the concept of a one-parameter persistent rigid-body motion is a slight generalisation of a class of motions called Ribaucour motions by Study. This allows a simple description of these motions in terms of their axode surfaces. We then investigate other special rigid-body motions, and ask if these can be persistent. The special motions studied are line-symmetric motions and motions generated by the moving frame adapted to a smooth curve. We are able to find geometric conditions for the special motions to be persistent and, in most cases, we can describe the axode surfaces in some detail. In particular, this work reveals some subtle connections between persistent rigid-body motions and the classical differential geometry of curves and ruled surfaces. © 2016, The Author(s).