Using the PLAXIS 2D to 3D Converter

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.

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