GPU Based Fluid Animation over Elastic Surface Models

Abstract

In this work, we focus on flow animation in elastic surfaces described by mass-spring models for computer game applications. We propose the combination of an efficient fluid model, that does not require solution of complicated equations, with a mass-spring approach to simulate the deformable surface. Firstly, we describe the fluid model for simulating the flow and its GPU implementation. The simulation method is based on a particle system, that evolves over a lattice. This lattice is defined over the surface domain. A set of local rules determine the interaction between particles. The elastic surface is simulated by a GPU based mass-spring system, geometrically represented by a regular mesh. The fluid particles are guided by the surface topography interacting with the elastic mesh due to external, elastic and damping forces. In the experimental results we emphasize the fact that physically plausible flow/deformation phenomena can be efficiently reproduced and animated in real time by the combined technique.