Real-time simulation of elastic objects in Virtual Environments using finite element method and precomputed Green s functions

Simulation of an object's elastic deformation is an important feature in applications where three-dimensional object behavior is explored. In addition, the benefits of user-object interactions are best realized in interactive environments which require the rapid computation of deformations. In this paper we present a prototype of a system for the simulation of elastic objects in Virtual Environments (VE) under real-time conditions. The approach makes use of the method of finite elements and precomputed Green's functions. The simulation is interactively visualized in fully immersive rear-projection based Virtual Environments such as the CyberStage and semi-immersive ones such as the Responsive Workbench. Using pick-ray interaction techniques the user can interactively apply forces to the object causing its deformation. Our interactive visualization module, embedded in VE system Avango, supports real time deformations of high-resolution 3D model (10,000 nodes) at a speed >20 stereoimages/sec.