NSF Mathematics Institutes’ Modern Math Workshop (at SACNAS)

October 12 - 13, 2016

Keynote Lecture

Scientific Computing in the Movies and Virtual Surgery

Speaker: Joseph Teran (UCLA)
Time: 4:30PM-5:30PM, October 12th
Room: Promenade Series Room 101A (Long Beach Convention Center)

New applications of scientific computing for solid and fluid mechanics problems include simulation of virtual materials for movie special effects and virtual surgery. Both disciplines demand physically realistic dynamics for such materials as water, smoke, fire, and brittle and elastic objects. These demands are different than those traditionally encountered and new algorithms are required. Teran’s talk will address the simulation techniques needed in these fields and some recent results including: simulated surgical repair of biomechanical soft tissues, extreme deformation of elastic objects with contact, high resolution incompressible flow, clothing and hair dynamics. Also included is discussion of a new algorithm used for simulating the dynamics of snow in Disney’s animated feature film, “Frozen”.


Speaker Bio:

Joseph Teran is a professor of applied mathematics at UCLA. His research focuses on numerical methods for partial differential equations in classical physics, including computational solids and fluids, multi-material interactions, fracture dynamics and computational biomechanics. A large component of his work is focused on the simulation of the human body, an excited application of this is virtual surgery. Virtual surgery is a technology for surgeons analogous to flight simulators for pilots. Professor Teran develops algorithms that provide the necessary efficiency and accuracy for predictive simulation of soft tissues involved in virtual open surgeries. His work also has applications in movie special effects. Teran works with Walt Disney Animation applying scientific computing techniques to simulate the dynamics of virtual materials like skin/soft tissue, water, smoke and recently, snow for the movie “Frozen”. Teran received a 2011 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) and a 2010 Young Investigator award from the Office of Naval Research.