Elastic Deformations Using Finite Element Methods in Computer Graphic Applications

Deformation tools constitute an important topic in computer animation. This paper shows how we can give an exact value to the basic parameters in a dynamical elastic deformation system based on finite elements for 2D objects. We look for an optimal value for the time step ( Δt ) in the dynamical system, and an optimal area for the basic square finite element of the object. Fine time step adjustment is important to reduce the computational cost of the system, and guarantee the realistic look of the result (final deformation of the object). Then several results from different physical conditions are compared, in order to find a good system of measuring the difference between them. Finally, using this measurement parameter we can relate the size of the finite elements with the error between several deformations of the same object. The deformations are rendered using the Open Inventor application (VRML).