Curvature line

A line on a surface at each point of which the tangent has one of the principal directions. The curvature lines are defined by the equation

$$ \begin{vmatrix} dv^2&-dudv&du^2\\ E&F&G\\ L&M&N\end{vmatrix}=0, $$

where $E,F,G$ are the coefficients of the first fundamental form of the surface, and $L,M,N$ those of the second fundamental form. The normals to the surface along curvature lines form a developable surface. The curvature lines on a surface of revolution are the meridians and the parallels of latitude. The curvature lines on a developable surface are its generators (which are straight lines) and the lines orthogonal to them.

References

[a1]	D.J. Struik, "Differential geometry" , Addison-Wesley (1950)