On the 'most normal' normal

Given a set of normals in :R-3, two algorithms are presented to compute the 'most normal' normal. The 'most normal' normal is the normal that minimizes the maximal angle with the given set of normals. A direct application is provided supposing a surface triangulation is available. The set of normals may represent either the face normals of the faces surrounding a point or the point normals of the points surrounding a point. The first algorithm is iterative and straightforward, and is inspired by the one proposed by Pirzadeh (AIAA Paper 94-0417, 1994). The second gives more insight into the complete problem as it provides the unique solution explicitly. It would correspond to the general extension of the algorithm presented by Kallinderis (AIAA-92-2721, 1992). Copyright (C) 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.