Modeling Dynamic Hair as a Continuum

Abstract

In this paper we address the difficult problem of hair dynamics, particularly hair-hair and hair-air interactions. To model these interactions, we propose to consider hair volume as a continuum. Subsequently, we treat the interaction dynamics to be fluid dynamics. This proves to be a strong as well as viable approach for an otherwise very complex phenomenon. However, we retain the individual character of hair, which is vital to visually realistic rendering of hair animation. For that, we develop an elaborate model for stiffness and inertial dynamics of individual hair strand. Being a reduced coordinate formulation, the stiffness dynamics is numerically stable and fast. We then unify the continuum interaction dynamics and the individual hair's stiffness dynamics.