What is the hardest thing you can emulate with computer graphics? Anything with unpredictable physics, such as water particles. Nvidia has unveiled its latest graphics animation enhancement in its technology called Position Based Fluids (PBF), a new realistic fluid simulation tool.
It builds on the previous method know as Smooth Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH), simplifying it so that it can be used for real-time animation. The challenge with current methods is that to get sufficient realism requires higher frequency calculations or high particle count, which are both computationally intensive. PBF solves this problem by using an iterative solver, allowing it to reduce computational cost, by allowing for a similar effect but using fewer particles and fewer time slices. It also has an artificial pressure term which improves particle distribution and creates nice surface tension-like effects. The technology has been published on a paper.
We also recommend watching: "Lagoa Multiphysics 1.0: Mind Blowing Physics Engine Demonstration" and "Alya Red: The Supercomputer Simulated Heart".
Nvidia is an American global technology company based in Santa Clara, California. Nvidia manufactures graphics processing units (GPUs), as well as having a significant stake in manufacture of system-on-a-chip units (SOCs) for the mobile computing market.
NVIDIA: Position Based Fluids, Water Simulation