Maintaining large time steps in explicit finite element simulations using shape matching.

We present a novel hybrid method to allow large time steps in explicit integrations for the simulation of deformable objects. In explicit integration schemes, the time step is typically limited by the size and the shape of the discretization elements as well as by the material parameters. We propose a two-step strategy to enable large time steps for meshes with elements potentially destabilizing the integration. First, the necessary time step for a stable computation is identified per element using modal analysis. This allows determining which elements have to be handled specially given a desired simulation time step. The identified critical elements are treated by a geometric deformation model, while the remaining ones are simulated with a standard deformation model (in our case, a corotational linear Finite Element Method). In order to achieve a valid deformation behavior, we propose a strategy to determine appropriate parameters for the geometric model. Our hybrid method allows taking much larger time steps than using an explicit Finite Element Method alone. The total computational costs per second are significantly lowered. The proposed scheme is especially useful for simulations requiring interactive mesh updates, such as for instance cutting in surgical simulations.

Filtering of high modal frequencies for stable real-time explicit integration of deformable objects using the Finite Element Method.

The behavior, performance, and run-time of mechanical simulations in interactive virtual surgery depend heavily on the type of numerical differential equation solver used to integrate in time the dynamic equations obtained from simulation methods, such as the Finite Element Method. Explicit solvers are fast but only conditionally stable. The condition number of the stiffness matrix limits the highest possible time step. This limit is related to the geometrical properties of the underlying mesh, such as element shape and size. In fact, it can be governed by a small set of ill-shaped elements. For many applications this issue can be solved a priori by a careful meshing. However, when meshes are cut during interactive surgery simulation, it is difficult and computationally expensive to control the quality of the resulting elements. As an alternative, we propose to modify the elemental stiffness matrices directly in order to ensure stability. In this context, we first investigate the behavior of the eigenmodes of the elemental stiffness matrix in a Finite Element Method. We then propose a simple filter to reduce high model frequencies and thus allow larger time steps, while maintaining the general mechanical behavior.