Vasilenko Released Houdini Fluid Solver
The new tool brings variable particle radii and 2D manifold foam simulation to Houdini fluid workflows.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Quantum Computing
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Alexander Vasilenko has released the Guided Bubbles & Wet Foam Solver, a new tool for Houdini designed to improve water simulation realism. The software, based on research from Wētā, introduces support for variable particle radii within fluid environments.
Why it matters
The solver enables more accurate representation of complex fluid behaviors, specifically targeting the realism of bubble formation and foam movement. It addresses long-standing limitations in native POP Fluid workflows by implementing advanced particle dynamics.
The tool implements SPH (Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics) forces including viscosity, cohesion, and surface friction to manage fluid behavior. Foam simulation is rendered across a 2D manifold, providing a lightweight alternative to traditional volumetric rendering for water surfaces.
The players
Alexander Vasilenko
The developer of the Guided Bubbles & Wet Foam Solver for Houdini.
Wētā
A visual effects studio known for developing high-end computational fluid dynamics and rendering research.
Houdini
A 3D procedural software platform widely used in visual effects for complex fluid and particle simulations.
The details
The Guided Bubbles & Wet Foam Solver utilizes SPH, a computational method for simulating fluid motion, to handle complex interactions like bubble formation. By projecting foam onto a 2D manifold—a surface that locally resembles flat Euclidean space—the solver optimizes the rendering of thin fluid layers. Additionally, it features two-way coupling, a technique where separate simulation systems interact and influence each other’s physical state in real-time.
Timeline
October 6, 2026: The solver was released.
The Tech Race
This release bridges the gap between high-fidelity proprietary research and standard procedural software production. It follows a industry trend of porting complex simulation papers into accessible platforms like Houdini to accelerate visual effects pipelines.
Technical artists can immediately integrate the solver into existing Houdini water workflows to handle previously unsupported variable particle radii. The tool requires users to have Houdini installed to leverage its custom SPH forces and two-way coupling capabilities.
The takeaway
This development standardizes complex fluid interactions that were previously difficult to achieve in Houdini's native environment. Users should monitor updates regarding how this solver scales with large-scale ocean or whitewater production scenes.
Further reading
For more on high-performance simulation tools, see the latest in Quantum Computing.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 80.
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