4 ms·

Real-time internal combustion engine simulation

85 points by memorable 4y ago

skunkworker 4y ago
Here's a good video on how it was built https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKT-sKtR970 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKT-sKtR970
Simon_O_Rourke 4y ago
That's amazing! This guy's talents are wasted working with mere mortals
abainbridge 4y ago
I'm fascinated by how this works. Does it do any CFD type of simulation of the gas flow in the engine? Is the simulation entirely 2D? I've thought about doing a similar project myself but would like to be able to simulate the effects of engine tuning techniques such as "porting" of the cylinder head. I think that is quite hard - I don't think a simple incompressible flow CFD simulation would be sufficient. Particularly if you wanted to simulate the pressure waves in a tuned-length-induction system, I'm pretty sure you'd need compressible flow. I haven't been able to find any suitable tutorials on simulating compressible flow. Most of the teaching material I found starts with vast amounts of pencil and paper maths exercises and assumes graduate level vector calculus. I want something that starts with for loops and a hand waving understanding of the concepts of vector calculus. I think you could still do something interesting in 2D. I've struggled to find anywhere to discuss such ideas.
- mhh__ 4y ago
  I don't think it does a conventional CFD simulation but it does try to capture some of the physics correctly.
gen_greyface 4y ago
amazing. a bit of smoke would be lovely.
kqr 4y ago
This stuff would be great not just for sounds in game, but e.g. in racing or flight simulators I would want the plane engine realistically simulated since a large part of flying some aircraft is doing it in a way that reduces wear and tear on this critical component! Stuff like spark plug fouling, engine flooding, carb temperature effects, mixture/RPM/manifold pressure optimisation at altitude, etc.
- rurban 4y ago
  The very first simulation book I bought had real-time physical airplane Matlab SimuLink models, about 20 years ago. These are the hard models with 6 degrees of freedom. Engine simulation was much easier, gearbox a bit harder. But these kind of engine, vehicle, airflow simulations are bread and butter in the industry. Everyone has them.
7373737373 4y ago
I suppose refueling will become an important game mechanic in the future because of the nostalgia
- soulofmischief 4y ago
  I'm looking forward to a "turbo mode when in direct sunlight" mechanic.
pokycrat 4y ago
amelius 4y ago
Since he wrote a generic physics engine for this, I'm wondering, can it simulate musical instruments?
- philjohn 4y ago
  If you're interested in that kind of thing, Ircam in France did a lot of research into physical modelling in the 90's and 00's

85 points by memorable 4y ago

Here's a good video on how it was built https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKT-sKtR970 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKT-sKtR970

Simon_O_Rourke 4y ago

That's amazing! This guy's talents are wasted working with mere mortals

abainbridge 4y ago

I'm fascinated by how this works. Does it do any CFD type of simulation of the gas flow in the engine? Is the simulation entirely 2D? I've thought about doing a similar project myself but would like to be able to simulate the effects of engine tuning techniques such as "porting" of the cylinder head. I think that is quite hard - I don't think a simple incompressible flow CFD simulation would be sufficient. Particularly if you wanted to simulate the pressure waves in a tuned-length-induction system, I'm pretty sure you'd need compressible flow. I haven't been able to find any suitable tutorials on simulating compressible flow. Most of the teaching material I found starts with vast amounts of pencil and paper maths exercises and assumes graduate level vector calculus. I want something that starts with for loops and a hand waving understanding of the concepts of vector calculus. I think you could still do something interesting in 2D. I've struggled to find anywhere to discuss such ideas.

mhh__ 4y ago
I don't think it does a conventional CFD simulation but it does try to capture some of the physics correctly.

gen_greyface 4y ago

amazing. a bit of smoke would be lovely.

kqr 4y ago

This stuff would be great not just for sounds in game, but e.g. in racing or flight simulators I would want the plane engine realistically simulated since a large part of flying some aircraft is doing it in a way that reduces wear and tear on this critical component! Stuff like spark plug fouling, engine flooding, carb temperature effects, mixture/RPM/manifold pressure optimisation at altitude, etc.

rurban 4y ago
The very first simulation book I bought had real-time physical airplane Matlab SimuLink models, about 20 years ago. These are the hard models with 6 degrees of freedom. Engine simulation was much easier, gearbox a bit harder. But these kind of engine, vehicle, airflow simulations are bread and butter in the industry. Everyone has them.

7373737373 4y ago

I suppose refueling will become an important game mechanic in the future because of the nostalgia

soulofmischief 4y ago
I'm looking forward to a "turbo mode when in direct sunlight" mechanic.

pokycrat 4y ago

amelius 4y ago

Since he wrote a generic physics engine for this, I'm wondering, can it simulate musical instruments?

philjohn 4y ago
If you're interested in that kind of thing, Ircam in France did a lot of research into physical modelling in the 90's and 00's