Diameter transition should increase by degrees in the Visualisation module

[shaswin]

Version: Ple4Win v4.3.0

In the 3D visualisation the pipeline transition from a diameter from 406,4 mm to 219,1 mm is splitted into multiple disconinue jumps over the elements in the transition (depending of the element lengths), see printscreen below.

[attachment=665]

It should increase by degrees ('geleidelijk'). It doesn't look realistic here.

Discontinuity of the diameter should only be visible when you have discontinue diameter (DOUT1 and DOUT2 filled in the same row).

[Dr. J Foerster]

Actually, the 3D visualisation is behaving exactly as we intended.
It was one of our basic design decisions that the visualisation should show what the model looks like as much as possible.

As you might know, in Ple4Win each element only has one diameter, there are no tapered elements. If the user defines a pipeline section with changing diameter, Ple4win approximates this by giving each element in that section an average diameter. See the data of the PIPEDIM output table in the screenshot below. The 3D visualisation shows exactly that, a pipeline with step changes in diameter.
   

The aim of the 3D visualisation is to give the user a clear view of the model. Its aim is not to give a smoothed, idealized "improved" view of the pipeline. For the same reason all bends are shown as collections of straight elements instead of nicely curved pipes.
   

[shaswin]

Jens,

A client of ours did make a comment on this. That's why I opened a topic on the Ple4Win forum. There is for us not really a need for a smoothed visualisation. The current visualisation is good enough.

There is only one wish I discussed with Paul, is to view the results over every 7.5 degrees over the circumference of an element. This would be more realistic if one could see/visualise at which angles for example the stresses are high. This is in the todo/wish list of Paul. A new column could be created in the SECTION input table where the user input data could be given: 'YES' or 'NO/empty'. Currently Ple4Win calculates detailed calculations for the last section element. Everywhere a user has given a 'YES' for detailed calculation the visualisation could be detailed viewed in the circumference of that section and everywhere else (other elements) the min/max value. So it is a userchoice to view detailed calculations in a output table for the relevant elements or to view it in the 3D Visualisation module.

Topic can be closed.

[Dr. J Foerster]

The 3D visualisation module was made as a tool for the Ple4Win user. It is not intended as a presentation tool.

Thanks for reporting the comment of your client. We will keep it in mind. If there are more clients / user who would like to have a smoothed "presentation mode" with the 3D visualisation, we might implement that in the future. But currently this is not an addition with any priority.

On the other hand, the presentation of circumferential data does have a high priority. We are working on it, however, I can't give an estimate yet on when it will be available.