Let A be a convex compact set in the plane (with a piecewise smooth boundary, say). We want to `inflate' it in such a way that the diameter does not increase. 


More accurately, we are looking for all sets C such that 


a) A is a subset of C; 
b) diam(A)=diam(C)


Let now B is the largest possible set C which satisfies these two properties. 


By `largest' I mean either that it m(B) = max m(C), where m is the Lebesgue measure; or that B actually contains any C with these properties. Let us call B the *isodiametric hull* of A.


The simplest example of A is of course the square: here B is the superscribed disc, and it is the isodiametric hull of A in the strong sense.


Another example is the equilateral triangle, for which B is the [Reuleaux triangle](http://mathworld.wolfram.com/ReuleauxTriangle.html). Similarly, for any regular 2n-gon we have the disc, and for any regular (2n+1)-gon its isodiametric hull is a Reuleaux polygon. 


The first non-trivial example that comes to mind is an isosceles triangle that isn't equilateral. It is clear that the hull is always a set of constant diameter but how does one actually obtain it? It seems that its boundary - a curve of constant width - is not a finite union of circular arcs.


I wonder if all this is well known (being such a natural question!). In particular, does the isodiametric hull of a set always exists in the strong sense? 


**Added:** of course, if there is no IDH in the strong sense, B may not be unique. Its area *is* unique, though. How does one find it? 



Isodiametric hull

> 
> For any shape that is not constant width, there are many different maximal elements of the same diameter containing it.
> 
> 
> 


Constant width shapes are maximal. They are regions swept out by line segments of length $D$ swept by their midpoints moving perpendicularly along curves perpendicular to along smooth curves (with cusps) whose tangent line turns 180 degrees


Any shape that is not constant width has some projections that do not have maximal diameter.
For each projection that has maximal diameter, there is a diameter as above perpendicular to the line of projection. 


Any method of interpolating a positively turning curve between the existing diameters will create a maximal element of the set of shapes of the given diameter. There are always infinitely many ways to do this unless the set is already maximal --- any one solution for an interpolating curve can be perturbed anywhere it is not constrained.


This observation can be applied, for exmaple, to the case of squares mentioned in the question. For example, you can begin enlargement of a square by adding an arc of a circle centered at one corner and passing through an opposite corner, then take the convex hull. More systematically: the square only defines two diameters. There are many Legendrian sections of
tangent line bundle of plane $\to \mathbb {RP|^2}$ (cf. [Is the sphere the only surface all of whose projections are circles? Or: Can we deduce a spherical Earth by observing that its shadows on the Moon are always circular?](https://mathoverflow.net/questions/39127/is-the-sphere-the-only-surface-all-of-whose-projections-are-circles-or-can-we-d/39133#39133)) interpolating these two elements.


The total area is locally given by an easy formula, but globally it seems like a highly irregular function, since it depends on how the sweeping diagonal overlaps itself. I doubt if there is a good theory of a maximal area shape of the same diameter
 containing the given one.


