New to Houdini 13 is the Finite Element Solver, and here Side FX’s Senior Software Developer Michiel Hagedoorn offers masterclass insights into using the new solver for deforming and fracturing solid objects with a range of practical examples.
The masterclass covers everything you need to know to get started with Houdi 13 Finite Elements, creating Tet Meshes, embedding high resolution geometry, and understanding internal forces.
In this masterclass, Senior Software Developer Michiel Hagedoorn takes you through the new Finite Element tools found in Houdini 13Go Procedural
Houdini 13 Finite Elements
New to Houdini is the Finite Element solver that uses the current trend in distraction effects, using finite elements. A finite solver will analyzes the stresses on an object and calculates the object bending or breaking based on the stress forces. Offering a much more flexible system for destruction, Finite Elements in Houdini 13 can also be used for soft body effects that will preserve an object’s volume at the same time. Houdini 13’s Finite Element solver makes it possible to realistically simulate complex destruction or slimy, jelly-like and gooey objects with equality.
The FEM (Finite Element Matter) in Houdini 13 requires “Tets” or tetrahedrons instead of polygons, and Michiel shows how to create the Tet meshes from your polygon models. Houdini 13 includes tools for FEM which will allow you to model internal shifts of mass in a softbody as well as realistically fracturing objects that are under stress.
Michiel also talks about fracturing solid objects, and animating rest and target states for those objects, as well as applying constraints and controlling simulation collisions by manipulating attributes for the Finite Element Solve.
The class comes with scene files that are available for download, so you can follow along with the course. Check out the Houdini 13 Masterclass on Finite Elements here for more information. If you have never seen Finite Element Solvers in practice or the workflow behind them, this is a great watch to see what is possible with Houdini 13.
