Overview
This document lists and briefly describes the Dynamics Operator (DOP) nodes available in Houdini for building and controlling dynamic simulations, including fluids, gases, rigid bodies, soft bodies, particles, and constraints.
Core Node Categories
Object & Data Nodes
- Nodes like "RBD Object", "Cloth Object", "Wire Object", and "Fluid Object" create and configure simulation objects from geometry.
- Data nodes such as "Apply Data", "Empty Data", and "Physical Parameters" attach or define properties for objects.
Forces & Field Nodes
- Various forces can be applied, including "Gravity Force", "Buoyancy Force", "Uniform Force", and "Wind Force".
- Field nodes like "Scalar Field", "Vector Field", and "Matrix Field" generate or visualize simulation fields.
Constraint & Relationship Nodes
- "Constraint", "Cone Twist Constraint", "Spring Constraint", and respective relationship nodes define connections and limitations between objects.
- "FEM Attach Constraint" and "Wire Glue Constraint" offer specialized binding for FEM and wire simulations.
Solver Nodes
- Solvers such as "Bullet Solver", "RBD Solver", "Cloth Solver", "Smoke Solver", "FLIP Solver", "FEM Solver", and "Vellum Solver" evolve simulations for different object types.
- "Gas" prefixed nodes provide microsolvers for fluid and smoke simulation sub-steps.
Particle & Crowd Nodes
- "POP" nodes manage particle simulation, editing attributes, applying forces, and simulating behaviors like flocking and steering.
- "Crowd" nodes define states, transitions, and logic for agent-based simulations.
Specialized Nodes
- "Anchor" nodes determine positions or orientations based on geometry or world space.
- Visualization nodes, such as "RBD Visualization" and "Scalar Field Visualization", assist with debugging and analysis.
- Collision nodes, including "Volume Collider", "Point Collider", and "Wire/Wire Collider", define interactions between simulation objects.
- Group and partition nodes organize objects for simulation structuring.
Utility & Network Nodes
- "Switch", "Merge", "Subnet", and "Output" nodes control flow, grouping, and simulation export within DOP networks.
- Networked nodes, such as "Net Fetch Data", enable distributed simulation and data sharing.
Simulation Control
- Nodes like "Active Value", "Enable Solver", "Delete", and "Modify Data" control object activity, solver participation, or manage data lifecycle during simulation.
Overview of Solver Types
- Rigid bodies, soft bodies, cloth, wire, fluids, smoke, and crowds all have dedicated creation, control, constraint, and solver nodes.
- Gas microsolvers handle sub-steps for advanced fluid and smoke control.
Action Items
- TBD – Team: Review specific node documentation for detailed parameter usage and best practices in simulation setups.