Apple Peel Unfolding of Archimedean and Catalan Solids
For researchers in geometry and polyhedron unfolding, this provides a new classification and method for generating nets, though the problem is niche and the results are incremental.
The paper introduces a new method for generating polyhedron nets called 'apple peel unfolding' and classifies Archimedean and Catalan solids as perfect (always peelable), possible (peelable in restricted cases), or impossible. Results show three Archimedean and six Catalan solids are perfect, and three Archimedean and three Catalan are possible.
We consider a new treatment for making polyhedron nets referred to as ``apple peel unfolding'': drawing the nets as if we were peeling off appleskins. We define apple peel unfolding strictly and implement a program that derives the sequential selection of the polyhedral faces for a target polyhedron in accordance with the definition. Consequently, the program determines whether the polyhedron is peelable (can be peeled completely). We classify Archimedean solids and their duals (Catalan solids) as perfect (always peelable), possible (peelable for restricted cases), or impossible. The results show that three Archimedean and six Catalan solids are perfect, and three Archimedean and three Catalan ones are possible.