3DS Max and importing into Virtual Wind Tunnel

Altair Forum User
Altair Forum User
Altair Employee
edited October 2020 in Community Q&A

Hello everyone,

 

I am new here, this software is pretty amazing honestly.

 

Just wondering if there is any way to import 3D model from 3DS Max into Virtual Wind Tunnel? Was searching for some answers but couldn't find them, maybe wrong search.

 

Cheers

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Answers

  • Altair Forum User
    Altair Forum User
    Altair Employee
    edited March 2015

    Hi,

     

    right now I can't find how to install VWT (http://forum.altairhyperworks.com/index.php?/topic/14500-vwt-installation/) but from what I remember you can only import *.nas surface meshes.

     

    You could export your file from 3DS Max in *.iges format, then import it in Hypermesh, do a surface mesh in HM (there is an easy automesh function) and then export that mesh. I don't think there is an option to directly import files from 3DS Max.

     

    Cheers

    M.S.

  • Altair Forum User
    Altair Forum User
    Altair Employee
    edited March 2015
    Altair Forum User said:

    Hi,

     

    right now I can't find how to install VWT (http://forum.altairhyperworks.com/index.php?/topic/14500-vwt-installation/) but from what I remember you can only import *.nas surface meshes.

     

    You could export your file from 3DS Max in *.iges format, then import it in Hypermesh, do a surface mesh in HM (there is an easy automesh function) and then export that mesh. I don't think there is an option to directly import files from 3DS Max.

     

    Cheers

    M.S.

     

    ...thanks for the answer, but my version 3DS Max 2014 doesn't have .iges exporter, only .sat

     

    Cgeers

  • ydigit
    ydigit
    Altair Employee
    edited March 2015

    HyperMesh has lots of import option for Geometry. .SAT would also do.

    As mentioned above, at the moment only .NAS as surface mesh is supported import format for VWT. 

    Example : http://training.altairuniversity.com/analysis/cfd/virtual-wind-tunnel/virtual-wind-tunnel-analysis-of-a-student-race-car/

  • Altair Forum User
    Altair Forum User
    Altair Employee
    edited January 2016

    Hi guys, I´m revisiting this topic because I´m trying to run a CFD simulation of a car´s 3d model in VWT. I´m using 3ds Max 2016 to export the model. I tried different approaches and different softwares that are installed in my university´s facilities. These were:

     

    First I tried exporting the 3d model into IGES, as suggested, but it seems that 3ds Max will only export to IGES from a NURBS model. So I tried to open it in Autodesk Surfacewrap, which can import .obj models and export them to NASTRAM. The geometry generated has only the rear wheels identified as separate objects but imports fine into Hyperworks VWT, but when I try to run the simulation, it lasts for only a few minutes and results as if the wind tunnel was completely empty.

     

    How can I make this work?

  • ydigit
    ydigit
    Altair Employee
    edited January 2016

    It seems there is option for  .sat (ACIS format) or .STL file format export from 3DS max. These files can be imported in HyperMesh, mesh to export .Nas

     

    Is it possible to share the .Nas file, that  lead to the empty run.

     

  • Altair Forum User
    Altair Forum User
    Altair Employee
    edited January 2016

    Thanks for the response. It half worked, I could export from 3ds Max using STL format, but in VWT once the simulation started, it returned an error message 'Job Terminated'.

     

    When exporting from Hypermesh to Nastram (Fluent), right before exporting it mentioned 90 duplicate elements.

     

    I´ll try to upload the files tomorrow when I can have access to my university´s lab again.

     

  • Rahul_P1
    Rahul_P1
    Altair Employee
    edited January 2016

    You can go to check elements (F10) > duplicates > save failed > Mask (F5) > retrieve > mask > reverse > delete displayed elements, also

    Go to tools>>edge panel. Change the toggle to 'elems' and select all the elements on the component. Preview equivalence and then equivalence the nodes.

  • Altair Forum User
    Altair Forum User
    Altair Employee
    edited January 2016

    Ok, after a bit of fiddling, I could get the job done according to your instructions, but still VWT is no simulating.

    The error message is as the following:

     

     

     

    File imported successfully.

     

    Started exporting/running...

     

    Exporting file C:/Users/Storm Rider/Documents/HW/13.0/vwt/Wind_Tunnel_1-13-2016_17-37-20/22b_trans_to_occ_pos.nas

     

    Finished exporting ...

     

    AcuSolve batch file with path : 'C:/Program Files/Altair/13.0/acusolve/win64/plugins/bin/acuVwt.bat '

     

    AcuSolve batch file exec command : 'C:/Program Files/Altair/13.0/acusolve/win64/plugins/bin/acuVwt.bat ' 'C:/Users/Storm Rider/Documents/HW/13.0/vwt/Wind_Tunnel_1-13-2016_17-37-20' vwtAnalysis

     

    Executed the AcuSolve batch file successfully

     

    Timer stopped because of status - JOB_TERMINATED

     

     

    Attached are the files.

    Thank you for your help.

     

    And here´s the link for the .nas file created by Autodesk Surface Wrap:

    http://www.mediafire.com/download/5gw2wxl7yb2bcc6/22b_01_17d.nas

    Unable to find an attachment - read this blog

  • ydigit
    ydigit
    Altair Employee
    edited January 2016

    VWT is not running, as neither of the files are directly useful.

    The Nastran file has 3D elements and no 2D elements. For VWT you need 2D elements on the surfaces of the car. 

     

    One option is to extract the faces from this 3D mesh, delete 3D elements and export the 2D elements after relevant checks (duplicates, connectivity, intersections, free edges).  See the pinned post on the forum for details.

     

    Second option is using the STL file could to generate 2D mesh and export as .Nas file for VWT.

     

     

     

     

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