Acoustic Wave Modeling Using 2D FDTD: Applications in Unreal Engine For Dynamic Sound Rendering

Bilkent Samsurya

Independent Researcher

Abstract

Accurate acoustic simulation is crucial for immersion, yet many industry pipelines overlook wave phenomena, especially at low frequencies. We present a 2D finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) framework integrated with Unreal Engine that models sound as a wave process and embeds occlusion, diffraction, reflection, and interference. Scenes are top-down projected to a 2D grid to derive obstacle masks and boundary conditions. A Python FDTD solver drives a sine sweep at the source, while virtual quadraphonic microphone arrays capture pressure responses at listener positions. Deconvolution produces multi-channel, direction-aware impulse responses that are injected into Unreal Engine’s audio pipeline for dynamic playback. Benchmarks align with analytical expectations, and we outline hybrid extensions for practical deployment. The approach offers a tractable, wave-based alternative for interactive applications.

Published in: interactivesPreprint

Publication Date: September 15, 2025

ISSN: 2755-6336

Keywords

HCISoundMultimedia

Cite or

Samsurya, B. (2025). Acoustic Wave Modeling Using 2D FDTD: Applications in Unreal Engine For Dynamic Sound Rendering [Preprint]. interactives. 10.64560/58989191