Fluid : Fluid Granular

Owned by thomas (Unlicensed)
Last updated: 22 Oct, 2018 by Alex Ribao
4 min read

This is the place where the type of fluid/material is defined together with its properties.

 

 

RealFlow Scene

In RealFlow | Maya it is possible to use multiple "Scene" trees in the same project. To link the fluid to a scene tree right-click on the field, choose "Set Scene", and select an item from the appearing list.

Linked Domains

All fluid, rigid, and elastic containers inside the field will be affected by the fluid currently selected.

  • Connections to other containers have to be established manually by clicking on "Add Object(s)". From the appearing list you can choose other nodes.
  • To break a connection select one or more containers from the "Linked Domains" field and click "Remove Object(s)".
Type

There are six different types of fluids and materials. All types, except "Dumb", are GPU-accelerated:

  • "Dumb” particles are often used for spray or foam. These particles cannot react with each other and do not have the characteristic fluid properties, but they are simulated very fast.
  • "Liquid - SPH" is a very accurate fluid Global.
  • "Liquid - PBD" is a very fast fluid type (faster than “Liquid - SPH”).
  • "Granular" is suitable for substances like sand or snow.
  • "Viscous" fluids are suited for substances like caramel, yogurt, oil, or lava.
  • "Viscoelastic" is the choice of materials such as rubber, caoutchouc, silicone, or "memory foam".

Not all materials are able to interact. For a complete list of possible interactions please visit → this page.

Resolution

With this setting you can change the amount of particles. “Resolution” mainly depends on scene scale and emitter scale, but it also affects the material's mass and therefore depends on “Density”, too:

  • With “Resolution” set to 1.0, a volume of 1 m x 1 m x 1 m contains exactly 1,000 particles.
  • The parameter accepts any positive value.
Density

This parameter is defined as mass per volume unit and is different for each substance. “Density” does not change the fluid's behaviour, but it is possible to mix fluids from different domains. This way you are able to simulate substances like oil and water. The unit is kilograms per cubic metre. The density of water is 1,000 kg/m3. Avoid very small values close to 0, because they can lead to instabilities.

Interpenetration

Interpenetration simulates the repulsion forces between granular particles. We recommend values ≤ 1, but any positive value is accepted. The substeps and iterations settings in the "Scene" node's → "Global" tab influence how this parameter acts on the fluid.

Friction

When nearby particles collide they start to slide, "Friction" counteracts this motion until the particles stop (also known as dynamic friction). Any value ≥ 0 is valid, but you should not go beyond 1.0 unless necessary. The substeps and iterations settings in the "Scene" node's → "Global" tab influence how this parameter acts on the fluid.

Static friction

"Static friction" acts like a barrier that has to be exceeded in order to make a particle slide. With higher values you are able to create structures like sand piles. Any value ≥ 0 is valid, but you should not go beyond 1.0 unless necessary. The substeps and iterations settings in the "Scene" node's → "Global" tab influence how this parameter acts on the fluid.

Compactation

This parameter adds a kind of friction that helps to get a more fragmented, block-like behaviour when the granular material is breaking. Any value ≥ 0 is valid.

Cohesion

"Cohesion" is a force of attraction between nearby granular particles. Values greater than zero support the appearance of chunks, similar to snow or wet sand. Any value ≥ 0 is accepted. The substeps and iterations settings in the "Scene" node's → "Global" tab influence how this parameter acts on the fluid.

Roughness

In the real world, granular substances do not have perfectly rounded shapes, but there are irregularities like spikes or edges. This parameter mimics these effects and helps to suppress regular structures. Any value ≥ 0 is accepted.

Stacking

Increase this value to simulate structures like piles. Any positive value ≥ 0 is accepted. The substeps and iterations settings in the "Scene" node's → "Global" tab influence how this parameter acts on the fluid.

Damping

Damping smoothens the relative velocities between nearby particles. A small amount of damping helps to stabilize a simulation, while higher values introduce viscosity to the material. You can enter any positive value and 0.

Compute Vorticity

Vorticity channel computation is disabled by default to improve performance. Activate this option before the simulation starts if you need it for → filtering or shading purposes.

Max particles

Please enter a value to stop emission at a certain amount of particles. "Max particles" is based on the total amount of emitted particles. Let's say you have entered "50,000". If there are currently 1,000 particles in your scene, but you have already deleted 49,000 particles RealFlow will stop the emission.