Abstract
In this paper, we present an interactive approach to visual simulation of whirlwind using grid and particles. Higher-resolution simulation can be carried out efficiently by perturbing air flow computed on a rough grid with small-scale turbulence. The grid-based simulation first provides a primary whirlwind flow field through modeling its underlying heat convection. Then, the particle-based simulation computes the transport energy of turbulence based on a two-equation k — ε model, which allows us to capture the turbulence details. The dynamism of whirlwind is conveyed effectively by the interaction with rigid and deformable bodies, such as flag, branch and paper, placed on interactively-controllable trajectories. In addition, a simplified variant of particle-based volume rendering is utilized to delineate changes in the translucency of whirlwind, which reflects the amount of sand particles stirred up from the ground.
