Computer Simulation and Visualization of Wheel Tracks on Solid Surfaces in Virtual Environment

Abstract

The paper describes methods and approaches for implementation of traces from virtual prototypes of wheeled technical vehicles on solid objects in three-dimensional virtual scenes. Use of particle systems hierarchically linked to wheel models is the basis of solutions developed. Original type of particle system is proposed, in which generation of elements is regulated by special control signal. Creation, processing, storage and destruction of particles is performed by means of the CUDA architecture with use of computing cores of modern graphics processor and video memory resources. Creating geometric model of each particle and its rendering is carried out on programmable graphics pipeline with own vertex, geometry and fragment shaders. Visualization of virtual environment with simulation of wheel tracks is performed in real time. Software modules were created based on developed methods and approaches. Approbation of them was carried out in virtual environment system VirSim and showed adequacy and effectiveness of proposed solutions for simulation of wheel tracks in virtual environment systems and training complexes.