Physically Based Modelling of Human Limbs

This paper considers the modelling of human limbs featuring deformable tissue, which automatically exhibit realistic behaviour when simulated in a synthetic environment. A limb model is proposed that incorporates a simple skeleton joint, muscle tissue, non-muscle tissue (e.g. fat), tendons and a skin layer. The only input parameters to the model are for simple low-level control of muscle activation, with the resulting motion and deformation of the limb being generated automatically. To demonstrate the approach we have implemented a preliminary model of the limb which incorporates a new mass-spring-damper model based on octahedral elements for modelling the deformable tissue. The results show eeects that occur in real limbs such as bulging and creasing at joints.