Abstract: A physics software development kit (PSDK) provides scalable physics content as a “vertical” that defines one or more physics simulations for a graphics asset in a graphics scene. The vertical and the graphics asset may be provided in a verticals library associated with the PSDK or generated using the PSDK. The PSDK integrates the vertical into an existing graphics application to generate physically-realistic graphics content. The vertical may be scaled by a user according to the capabilities of a computer system that executes the PSDK or, alternatively, may be scaled by the PSDK based on received hardware capabilities information. The PSDK selectively offloads the physics simulations associated with the vertical to a physics processing unit to optimize usage of processor resources. In addition, the PSDK provides a technique to extract a graphics asset based on an existing 3D model of the object.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for efficiently simulating breaking waves in real-time. A two-dimensional shallow water height field simulation generates height and velocity information used to generate a wave line for each wave within the height field that satisfies criteria for overturning. For each overturning wave, a wave sheet is created from particles generated relative to points on the respective wave line. Each wave sheet may move separately from an underlying wave that gave rise to the wave sheet, allowing the wave sheet to fall and break, creating a realistic appearance. As a falling wave sheet collides with the underlying wave or water surface, free particles may be generated to simulation spray visible on a real breaking wave.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for computing two-way rigid body coupling in a two-dimensional height field simulation, such as a shallow water simulation. Coupling from a rigid body to a fluid is computed using fluid displacement of the body in each grid cell. The body is projected onto a simulation plane to determine which grid cells are covered by the body. Fluid displacement from the body is computed for each grid cell based on displacement within a corresponding vertical column of fluid. Fluid displacement is distributed to neighboring grid cells prior to a height field computation. Coupling from the fluid to the rigid body is computed by integrating forces imparted on the body by the fluid at each grid cell. The integrated forces are used to compute a new position for the body in a subsequent simulation time step.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for executing a physics simulation in a system comprising a computational platform, a main application stored in the computational platform, a secondary application stored in the computational platform, and a smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) application programming interface (API) implemented in the computational platform. The method defines a SPH call in the SPH API, and by operation of the main application, invokes a software routine using the SPH call. Additionally, by operation of the secondary application, a state of the physics simulation is updated in response to the software routine.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for executing a physics simulation in a system comprising a computational platform, a main application stored in the computational platform, a secondary application stored in the computational platform, and a smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) application programming interface (API) implemented in the computational platform. The method defines a SPH call in the SPH API, and by operation of the main application, invokes a software routine using the SPH call. Additionally, by operation of the secondary application, a state of the physics simulation is updated in response to the software routine.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of generating a three-dimensional (3D) surface defined by a boundary of a 3D point cloud. The method comprises generating density and depth maps from the 3D point cloud, constructing a 2D mesh from the depth and density maps, transforming the 2D mesh into a 3D mesh, and rendering 3D polygons defined by the 3D mesh.