Visual progress report 2: on Bulk Triangle Dynamics, a Lagrangian Finite Element Method Approach

Simple Wheeled Cart Scene demonstrates the new multi-layer feature. Elements live only in a single layer but vertices can connect across layers. This enables the effective simulation of many complex mechanical systems. For our scene; a two dimensional wheel requires an axle connection from an independent layer.

Per element material is also critical for this Cart demonstration . The wheel treading is a soft but non-plastic high friction material which contrasts the axle and inner wheel's hard and low friction material.

Simple Cart and slope: View switches from material view to connective view for the two layers present.

Plastic Cart and Steep Slope: Materials for the cart and wheel and cargo all have low plastic yield strength. Thus they deform on a high velocity impact with the wall on the right.

Visual progress report on Bulk Triangle Dynamics, a Finite Element Method approach

Mechanical one way latch. Toothed pendulum swings one way but when it swings the other way the latch kicks in and prevents further motion. 

Grid of solid circles of the same material. Material is has a high degree of restitution energy dissipation as well as a high surface friction coefficient. 

Early scene to prove out possible toothed gear simulation. Effective force propagates from the toothed pendulum to the final gear.  Moderate gear play and latency is observed.

Materials impacted with solid hard circle. Materials all have the same young's modulus but different von mises energy criteria for plastic deformation.    In the "deviatoric energy" view one can see the max deviatoric energy reached in each scenario.

Early example of material variation. Here only the youngs' modulus of the material varies for each of the tubes. (multicolor triangle view shows underlying simulation triangle description)

Triangle connectivity view for scene involving the falling of a rubberized rope.  Surface contact is dynamically updated and can easily be seen between rope folds.

Early test involving a tube rolling down an incline with gravity. This view shows us the darker connective triangles and the lighter solid object triangles interacting at various surfaces

Simple bearing simulation.This scenario demonstrates the robust nature of  continuous contact FEM.

Finite Element Method: Basic visual results

Simple plastic material simulating a scenario equivalent to metal pressing. False color indicates von mises stress.

Significant plastic deformation with moderate volume preservation.

Early result using only volume preservation and damping produces a fluid-like effect. Slight checkerboarding is observer in the tessellated mesh. (The literature suggests this checkerboarding is common for the linear triangle)