A visual model for blast waves and fracture

grantor: University of TorontoExplosions generate extreme forces and pressures. They cause massive displacement, deformation and breakage of nearby objects. The chief damage mechanism of high explosives is the blast wave which they generate. A practical theory of explosives, blast waves and blast loading of structures is presented. This is used to develop a simplified visual model of explosions for use in computer graphics. A heuristic propagation model is developed which takes object occlusions into account when determining loading. The study of fracture mechanics is summarized. This is used to develop a fracture model that is significantly different from those previously used in computer graphics. This model propagates cracks within planar surfaces to generate fragmentation patterns. Visual results are presented, including the explosive destruction of a brick wall and the shattering of a window.M.Sc