GPU Simulation of Finite Element Facial Soft-Tissue Models

Abstract

Physically-based animation techniques enable more realistic and accurate animation to be created. We present a GPU-based finite element (FE) simulation and interactive visualisation system for efficiently producing realisticlooking animations of facial movement, including expressive wrinkles. It is optimised for simulating multi-layered voxel-based models using the total Lagrangian explicit dynamic (TLED) FE method. The flexibility of our system enables detailed animations of gross and fine-scale soft-tissue movement to be easily produced with different muscle structures and material parameters. While we focus on the forehead, the system can be used to animate any multi-material soft body.