LearnSPH: A Tool for Teaching the Basics of Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics in Graphics Research
Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) is a mesh-free Lagrangian method used to simulate continuum data, which was initially developed for astrophysical applications. Over the past twenty years, SPH has been applied in various other areas, including Computer Graphics. The graphics community has always been interested in physically based simulations for achieving high-quality visual effects and imitating real-world phenomena. SPH has become one of these simulations that has attracted the attention of researchers. However, learning and using SPH can be challenging. Although SPH offers remarkable advantages, such as meshless simulation and suitability for complex geometries, its learning curve is very high. It requires careful implementation of boundary conditions and convergence, and incurs a significant computational cost.
Additionally, parameter tuning can be a challenge for users, particularly those new to the method. Although there are open-source SPH resources and various publications, nearly all of them are aligned with the mentioned high learning curve, and understanding the basics of the method remains challenging for beginners. Over the past couple of years, we have observed that interactive learning is crucial for student success, as it increases engagement and fosters critical thinking skills. Here, we propose an interactive web-based tool to teach the basics of SPH to those new to the field. We aim to provide them with a deeper understanding through visualized conceptual explanations and practical applications.