Particle Simulation with GPUs Shading Languages
The usage of GPUs (Graphics Processing Units) in graphics is essential due to their parallel feature to perform operations. In this work we implement a particle simulation program using shading languages to improve the interaction among particles. We implement a parallel algorithm to detect collisions among animated particles. Particles are stored in a linear buffer with several threads using the Compute Shader (CS). To parallelize the process data are arranged in workgroups with specified size, which represent the threads. We compare the performance of the algorithm implemented in shading languages against the sequential version. We also demonstrate how programmable GPUs are a powerful tool to display large point datasets (particles) at interactive frame rate. We research the possibilities that GPUs and shading languages offer for rendering particles and the improvements in speed and quality using instance rendering.
Keywords: Particle Simulation, Parallel Programming, GPU rendering
Download Full-Text
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Francisco A. Madera
Francisco A. Madera received his B. Sc. Degree from the Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, México; his PhD from the University of East Anglia, UK. Dr. Madera teaches subjects related to computer graphics and videogames development; and his research is focused on computer graphics and GPU programming.
Francisco Moo-Mena
Francisco Moo-Mena is a Professor in Computer Sciences at Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, in Mérida, Mexico. From the Institute National Polytéchnique de Toulouse, in France, he received a Master Degree in Computer Science and a PhD, in 2003 and 2007, respectively. He also received another Master Degree in Distributed Systems from the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Mexico, in 1997. He received a BS in Computer Systems Engineering from the Instituto Tecnológico de Mérida, Mexico, in 1995. His research interests include Parallel and Distributed Computing, CUDA, Self-healing systems, and Web services Architectures
Enrique Ayala
Enrique Ayala is a lecturer in Computer Sciences at Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, in Mérida, México. He received a Master Degree in Distributed Systems and Networks from the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, México, in 2002. He received a BS in Computer Systems Engineering from the Instituto Tecnológico de Morelia, México, in 1993. His research interests include Computer Networks, Parallel and Distributed Computing and GPU Programming.
Luis F. Curi
Luis F. Curi is a lecturer in Computer Science in undergraduate and postgraduate programs at the Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, México. He received a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Reading, U.K. and a Master in Computer Science from ITESM-Monterrey, México. His research interest focuses on Parallel and Distributed Computing, Theory of Computing and Algorithms.
Francisco A. Madera
Francisco A. Madera received his B. Sc. Degree from the Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, México; his PhD from the University of East Anglia, UK. Dr. Madera teaches subjects related to computer graphics and videogames development; and his research is focused on computer graphics and GPU programming.
Francisco Moo-Mena
Francisco Moo-Mena is a Professor in Computer Sciences at Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, in Mérida, Mexico. From the Institute National Polytéchnique de Toulouse, in France, he received a Master Degree in Computer Science and a PhD, in 2003 and 2007, respectively. He also received another Master Degree in Distributed Systems from the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Mexico, in 1997. He received a BS in Computer Systems Engineering from the Instituto Tecnológico de Mérida, Mexico, in 1995. His research interests include Parallel and Distributed Computing, CUDA, Self-healing systems, and Web services Architectures
Enrique Ayala
Enrique Ayala is a lecturer in Computer Sciences at Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, in Mérida, México. He received a Master Degree in Distributed Systems and Networks from the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, México, in 2002. He received a BS in Computer Systems Engineering from the Instituto Tecnológico de Morelia, México, in 1993. His research interests include Computer Networks, Parallel and Distributed Computing and GPU Programming.
Luis F. Curi
Luis F. Curi is a lecturer in Computer Science in undergraduate and postgraduate programs at the Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, México. He received a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Reading, U.K. and a Master in Computer Science from ITESM-Monterrey, México. His research interest focuses on Parallel and Distributed Computing, Theory of Computing and Algorithms.
