With Todd’s advice in mind, to make the exhaust less dense at the base, and slowing the velocity of the sim as it ages, I have been experimenting with volume field to control the density and velocity of the sim. I have managed to get the volume functional and controlled with a ramp and direction, but it does not seem to be connecting into the pyro sim properly. Houdini gives me no immediate errors, but the way that I think it is supposed to work, and the way it is actually working is very different.
With this new sim, I like the shape of it, but the velocity and density need adjustment.
Learning from some tutorials to build a custom velocity field, I have put together this network which creates a density to be read into the pyro sim. Visualizing the trails and the density of the field, it seems to be working properly.
Simple controls for the velocity field.
The exhaust sim is no longer particle based. I have rebuilt it in H18 using sparse pyro. The shape is easier to control and takes half the time to test and sim. Still, the issue here is the second volume source which pulls in the velocity field.
I am still fuzzy on how this volume import works. I assume that the Source Volume is the attribute that is brought in from the given SOP Path. This then effects the Target Field with whatever Operation is selected. Currently, I don’t understand what the Field to Match means. I assume this causes the Source Volume to follow the path of this field and effects everything in it. I feel there may not be time to complete this and the turbo effect with how much time remains. This exhaust sim will be my priority until it is finished, then I will look into creating a turbo effect with the advice Todd has given for the turbo.