A consistent bending model for cloth simulation with corotational subdivision finite elements

Abstract

Modelling bending energy in a consistent way is decisive for the realistic simulation of cloth. With existing approaches characteristic behaviour like folding and buckling cannot be reproduced in a physically convincing way. We present a new method based on a corotational formulation of subdivision finite elements. Due to the non-local nature of the employed subdivision basis functions a C1-continuous displacement field can be defined. It is thus possible to use the governing equations of thin shell analysis leading to a physically accurate bending behaviour. Using a corotated strain tensor allows the large displacement analysis of cloth while retaining a linear system of equations. Hence, known convergence properties and computational efficiency are preserved.