Particle system implementation using smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) for lava flow simulation

Abstract

Lava flow simulation is a sophisticated and complex phenomenon because a lot of parameters involved. A method employed to simulating lava flow is a Lagrangian approach which sees lava as fluid composed by particle system. Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) method is implemented for interaction between particles which is setting fluid components. Physical parameters obtained by particle based fluid, lava, are mass density, viscosity, pressure, surface tension, temperature and external force. The usage of the SPH method makes particle system possible to interact with other objects such as terrain, the closest neighbor particle using staggered grid method. Smoothing kernel function used here is Spiky and Poly6 kernel with high level of stability and accuracy. Collision detection between particles and terrain is using Sphere Plane Sweep Test method, and carpet rendering used is quadtree method. Lava flow product is realistic enough and also able to simulate some physical parameters.