Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ames!eos!eugene
From: eugene@eos.UUCP (Eugene Miya)
Newsgroups: comp.graphics
Subject: Re: Nuclear burst simulation; ideas, anyone?
Keywords: nuclear, explosion, simulation
Message-ID: <4984@eos.UUCP>
Date: 4 Sep 89 19:05:57 GMT
References: <4295@udccvax1.acs.udel.EDU>
Reply-To: eugene@eos.UUCP (Eugene Miya)
Distribution: usa
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Calif.
Lines: 46

In article <4295@udccvax1.acs.udel.EDU> cygnus@vax1.acs.udel.EDU (Marc Cygnus) writes:
>I'm working on an animation sequence (part of) which involves a nuclear 
>groundburst. I don't want just a `mushroom cloud' -- I need to animate the
>entire burst from initial fireball through the characteristic `mushroom'.
>I don't need to include receeding clouds, though it would add a nice touch.
>
>Has anyone attempted modelling such physical events? My requirements are
>fairly lax; after all, the animation is not a scientific visualisation of
>burst mechanics, but rather a playful `let's-see-what-the-machine-can-do'
>project laced with humour. I _do_ want the thing to look as realistic as
>is feasible, though.

It's not clear to me what you are trying to do.  It's like asking for
a flight simulation without the equations and science behind flight.
Burst mechanics are burst mechanics.  I post this note because I'm
beginning to see a lot of this "show the science without trying
to understanding it."  We see a lot of this with fluid dynamics research,
and I am not a dynamicist, but I make an effort.  This trend away from
science is somewhat disturbing.  Back to fire balls.

I will assure that such modeling has been done for decades.  This was
what MAGI was set up do, not generate pretty CG.  All the National Weapons
Labs have been working on it.  All classified.  The computer companies who
supply hardware to these Labs (trying naming one not) do little "show you
what out H/W can do" demos specifically for their "Federal" clients.
You can certainly ask around, but most of these companies will deny the
existence of such "dirty" work.  They do this by hiring ex-Lab employees
in "cleared" divisions.  They then generate client specific information
and make sales.

> Summary of texture-mapping and outlining removed for brevity. (Roto-scoping)

Go with this.  It is simple and non-classified.
Or employ a good artist. 8)

The Distribution: field on the header has been modified so as not to
violate Information Export laws.

Another gross generalization from

--eugene miya, NASA Ames Research Center, eugene@aurora.arc.nasa.gov
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