The maximum and minimum values of the normal curvature at a point on the surface are called the principal curvatures. At any given point on the surface, intersection of the surface with a plane containing the normal vector and a particular tangent direction forms a curve. Curvature of this curve is called the normal curvature. Curvature values in all tangent directions form the normal curvatures at that point.
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(2009). Principal Curvatures. In: Li, S.Z., Jain, A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Biometrics. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-73003-5_603
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-73003-5_603
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