| Application | PLAXIS 2D PLAXIS 3D |
| Version | PLAXIS 2D CONNECT Edition PLAXIS 3D CONNECT Edition |
| Date created | 12 June 2017 |
| Date modified | 13 October 2022 |
The PLAXIS 2D to 3D Converter takes the 2D model geometry and soil properties and will convert this as an extruded model in PLAXIS 3D. This video shows how to run the tool.
An active Bentley Geotechnical SELECT Entitlement [GSE] is required to use the tool.
To launch the PLAXIS 2D to 3D Converter find the menu option under the Expert menu, as shown below.
Since PLAXIS 2D CONNECT Edition V20.04, the PLAXIS 2D to 3D converter is delivered as a full feature and accessible from the Expert menu in PLAXIS 2D Input.
Instructions below are for PLAXIS Legacy versions.
Note: This tool was made available as Technology Preview from PLAXIS 2D CONNECT Edition V20.01 to V20.03.
All dongle/hardware lock (HWL) based versions of PLAXIS 2D/3D are treated as "V8i SELECTseries 10" according to Bentley's Support Policy. This means that Bentley will discontinue support for hardware lock based versions of PLAXIS after December 31, 2021. This includes PLAXIS 2D 2019 and older, and PLAXIS 3D 2018 and older.
To see the benefits of the latest versions and how to get the latest version, please see PLAXIS CONNECT Edition: upgrade from Hardware lock to Flexible licensing
Supported versions
- PLAXIS 2D 2017 to PLAXIS 3D 2016.02
- PLAXIS 2D 2019 to PLAXIS 3D 2018.01
Installation and launch instructions:
- Extract the Conversion Tool files to \pytools\input\ in the PLAXIS 2D installation directory:
- Start the supported PLAXIS 2D Input with your model, activate the remote scripting server
- Start the supported PLAXIS 3D Input and start the remote scripting server
- From the Expert menu in PLAXIS 2D Input, select Run Python script > Open
(for first version: Expert > Python > Run script > Open) - Navigate to -> \pytools\input\ and select conversion_runner
- The Conversion Tool launches and automatically connects to PLAXIS 2D and 3D
- After running the Conversion tool the first time, you can find it in the Run script submenu as well
Known issues
- Issue: Conversion changes tunnel contraction value in PLAXIS 2D.
- Solution: After conversion involving tunnels, please check the PLAXIS 2D model's command line session windows for changes in the contraction values
- Issue: Conversion doesn't work a second time if a warning was generated at the first run
- Solution: If you encounter an error, exit the conversion tool, and relaunch it from the PLAXIS 2D software
- Issue: The conversion fails if the name and description of a material don't match
- Solution: This usually occurs when your material identification has spaces in the name i.e. "Marl 1", but the command line object does not have these spaces " Marl1". Either rename the material by removing the spaces, or use underscores instead of spaces, before starting the conversion.
- Issue: Running the conversion tool while having the material properties window open in PLAXIS 3D causes a crash
- Solution: Make sure you start with an empty project and have no open panes or windows in PLAXIS 3D