Graphical Modeling and Animation of Fracture

Acknowledgments I would like to thank my family, friends, and colleagues who provided me with their friendship and support during my time in graduate school. My parents and family were, and continue to be, a constant source of encouragement. They inspired me to set ambitious goals for myself, and they heartened me when those goals seemed distant. The members of the GVU Center, especially the other students in the Animation Lab and Geometry Group, created the camaraderie that made long hours in the lab often seem more like play than work. They were there to lend a hand when deadlines loomed all too near, and to lend an ear when deadlines seemed all too many. I am deeply grateful to my advisor, Jessica Hodgins, who's excellent advice and example were invaluable; and to the members of my committee, Greg Turk, Irfan Essa, Jarek Rossignac, and Demetri Terzopoulos, who provided insightful criticism and direction. I am also thankful to Jim Foley and Norberto Ezquerra who helped to set me on the right track during my first years of graduate school. Finally, and most importantly, I thank my wife, Heather. Her patient love, support, and companionship form the foundation on which my accomplishments have been built.