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VisualSPHysics: advanced fluid visualization for SPH models

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Abstract

VisualSPHysics, an open-source tool for creating realistic visualizations of smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) simulations, is presented here. The proposed approach is used to import SPH simulations (from DualSPHysics code) into 3D graphics software (Blender) and supports a wide range of visual effects (realistic lighting and materials, texturing, motion blur and foam simulation). The tool features a graphical user interface that integrates into Blender for easier use. VisualSPHysics was conceived to bring advanced visual effects to scientific and engineering simulations, helping researchers to disseminate their projects.

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Acknowledgements

This work was partially financed by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of the Government of Spain under project “WELCOME ENE2016-75074-C2-1-R” and financed by Xunta de Galicia (Spain) under project ED431C 2017/64″Programa de Consolidación e Estructuración de Unidades de Investigación Competitivas (Grupos de Referencia Competitiva)” co-funded by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). O. García-Feal is supported by Xunta de Galicia grant ED481A-2017/314.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. EPHYSLAB Environmental Physics Laboratory, CIM-UVIGO, Universidade de Vigo, Ourense, Spain

    O. García-Feal, A. J. C. Crespo & M. Gómez-Gesteira

Authors
  1. O. García-Feal
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  2. A. J. C. Crespo
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  3. M. Gómez-Gesteira
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to O. García-Feal.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Code availability

The code of VisualSPHysics is publicly available under GPL v3.0 license (https://github.com/EPhysLab-UVigo/VisualSPHysics).

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Appendices

Appendix A: List of properties for imported objects

The elements of a simulation can have different nature. These elements may require specific options to be processed correctly. Table 1 shows a list with including the most relevant options the objects imported with VisualSPHysics.

Table 1 Properties of the simulation objects imported with VisualSPHysics
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Appendix B: Parameters for foam simulations

Foam simulations are executed following a series of parameters. Table 2 shows the user-configurable parameters.

Table 2 Relevant parameters for the simulation simulations performed with VisualSPHysics
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García-Feal, O., Crespo, A.J.C. & Gómez-Gesteira, M. VisualSPHysics: advanced fluid visualization for SPH models. Comp. Part. Mech. 9, 897–910 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40571-020-00386-7

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