3D Physics Simulation in Heritage
One of the outstanding use of 3d modeling technology is true-physics simulation. This goes beyond walkthrough, conjectural modeling and rendered images. It is possible to animate structural falls, earth movements and canon ball damages to reverse engineer and estimate causes of ruined and damaged structures. Use of computer simulation is to investigate and better understand real field data, to test hypotheses and compare models which help in archaeological interpretation(s). In 3D simulation, all of the available data can be brought together interactively as a historical reconstruction or as an invaluable operative tool for research. In a virtual environment it is feasible to scientifically simulate phenomena that otherwise would be difficult to observe or simulate in the real world, for example, lighting, computational fluid dynamics or physical forces simulation.
Lighting(/Sunlight Illumination) simulation
This simulation enables one to investigate the changes of the shadow and shading realistically according to the properties of the light source(s) in order to analyze the natural lighting conditions of the site. A real-time 3D interaction and movement within a virtual site environment involves changes of light and shadow conditions of the reconstructed 3D model based on the sun’s position and overall a better perception will be achieved.
Computational fluid dynamics (CFD)/dynamic fluid simulation
Used to analyze problems that involve fluid flows and simulate large bodies of water with sophisticated secondary effects, like splashes, foam and mist. Can be used to analyse hydraulic characteristics of fountains, baths, water conduits, water distribution network study of a site and even complex large-scale 3d water scenarios like flood simulations, etc. A combination of Eulerian grid-based, smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH), vorticity-based and Lattice Boltzmann methods are used to visualize the flow field giving physically correct simulations.
Exterior ballistic simulation
Can simulate structure/building collapse, cracking surfaces or fracturing any kind of brittle/rigid materials like glass, stone/concrete walls, etc. In such simulation, objects can be static as a building or dynamic as a canon ball and is possible to make them impact each other. Interaction with force fields like wind, vortex, and so on is also supported. Useful in estimating external forced damages on structures esp. fortifications via canon balls, etc. and explosions.
