Dynamic deformation using adaptable, linked asynchronous FEM regions

Abstract

In order to simulate both physically and visually realistic soft tissue deformations, the Finite Element Method (FEM) is the most popular choice in the literature. However it is non-trivial to model complex behaviour of soft tissue with sufficient refresh rates, especially for haptic force feedback which requires an update rate of the order of 1 kHz. In this study the use of asynchronous regions is proposed to speed up the solution of FEM equations in real-time. In this way it is possible to solve the local neighborhood of the contact with high refresh rates, while evaluating the more distant regions at lower frequencies, saving computational power to model complex behaviour within the contact area. Solution of the different regions using different methods is also possible. To attain maximum efficiency the size of the regions can be changed, in real-time, in response to the size of the deformation.