MAXSURF MODELER

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 Contents
Maxsurf Setup

Maxsurf Modeler
interface

Maxsurf Modeler
Basics

Model preparation for

Stability calculations
 (1)
Maxsurf Download and Setup
• Go to https://education.bentley.com/
• Sign up using your Aalto Account
• Go to Software ⮕ Offshore structural analysis menu
⮕Maxsurf Ultimate ⮕ Download (2)
• Download the last version V23
• Install connection client and Maxsurf products
• Activate Maxsurf products.
• Sign in “Connection client” (integrated software with
Maxsurf) using your Aalto account
• Select Maxsurf Ultimate license when asked.

(3)

(4)
Maxsurf Tools

• Maxsurf includes tools for

• Hull modelling (Maxsurf Modeler)
• Seakeeping ( Maxsurf Motions)
• Stability calculations (Maxsurf stability)
• Resistance estimation ( Maxsurf Resistance)
• Structural modelling and analysis (Maxusrf Structure
and Multiframe).
 Maxsurf Modeler (Interface)
• Open Maxsurf Modeler
• You can open sample from Open ➛ quick start ➛ then
choose a sample
• There are three windows
• Plan Window: the plan window displays the model as
seen from below, with Starboard above the centerline (+ve)
and Portside below (-ve).
• Profile Window: displays the hull as seen from the
Starboard side, with the bow to the right of the screen.
• Body Plan: The body plan window displays the transverse
sections as seen from aft (view from behind) of the model.
Starboard is on the right of the centerline and Portside on
the left.
• Perspective Window: The Perspective window is
bordered by three rulers containing pointers that control
the rotation of the displayed design.
• Change window view:
Go to Window ➛ select (Perspective, Plan, Profile or
Body Plan) (Or from “windows” tap)
 Maxsurf Modeler (Coordinate System)
• Longitudinal datum can be located at aft perpendicular, forward perpendicular, amidships
or any other locations.
• Longitudinal datum: +ve forward of the datum -ve aft of the datum.
• Vertical datum can be located at the base line, design water line (DWL) or any other
locations.
• Vertical datum: +ve up and -ve down the datum.
• Datum, aft perpendicular and forward perpendicular can be defined from Data ➛Frame of
Reference
Maxsurf Modeler (Coordinate System)
• To define Zero reference point
(Coordinate system) and hull
lines.
• Go to Data ➛ Frame of Reference
1. Define design water line (DWL)
2. Press find base
3. Press ( Set to DWL for Aft and Fwd
perpendiculars)
4. Set vertical Datum to Baseline
5. Set Longitudinal Datum to Aft Perp.
6. Press Ok
 Maxsurf Modeler (Units)

• A variety of metric and

imperial units may be
specified.
• Go to Data ➛Units ➛
select the required units for
length and mass
 Maxsurf Modeler (Basics)
• There are different tools that can be used to create 3D hull model
• Markers are reference marks displayed on the screen. They may be offset data that has originated from an
existing hull or simply limiting dimensions that need to be visible while developing a design.
• Control points: Used to define surfaces and curves. Movement of these control points and changing its
weight allow you to manipulate a surface/curve into a desired shape.
• NURBS Surface. The shape of the surface is defined by the:
• Control points
• Surface stiffness
Control Points
• Trimesh: linear surface made up of triangular facets.

Surfaces and
Markers control points
 Maxsurf Modeler (Basics/Markers)
• Markers are purely graphical and have no effect on the calculation of
surfaces/curves.
• Markers have three coordinates
• “X” Longitudinal position
• “Y” Offset
• “Z” Height
• Markers can be defined either by:
• Fitting lines to an existing design (represent offset table points)
• A text file
• DXF curves or points, will be converted into markers.
• Coping and pasting into the markers table from another application such as a
spreadsheet.
• Markers can also be entered manually using the Add Marker function in the
Edit menu.
• Each marker can be associated with a station in your design.
 Maxsurf Modeler (Basics/Control points)
• Surfaces are defined in Modeler by the position of a set of control points
(rows and columns of control points) that collectively form a control point
net. Movement of these control points allows you to manipulate a surface
into a desired shape.
• Central to the process of modelling designs using Modeler is an
understanding of how control points may be used to attain the surface
shapes that you wish to achieve.
• The shape of the surface will change by changing the coordinates of its
control points.
 Maxsurf Modeler (Basics/Surfaces)
• There are two types of surfaces in
Maxsurf Modeler
• NURBS surface
• TriMesh surface.
• NURBS Surface, can be defined by:
• Control point positions
• Control point weights
• Surface stiffness in transverse and longitudinal
direction
• Designs may contain up to 1200 NURBS NURBS Surface before and after adding knuckle
surfaces in Modeler Advanced.
• Compacting control points can introduce
a discontinuity into the surface. Which
may be useful for Chined hull vessel
when it is designed using one surface.
 Maxsurf Modeler (Basics/Surfaces)
• TriMesh surface is a linear surface made up of triangular facets. So, it does not have control points,
and can not be modified.
• The TriMesh surface is not designed to be smooth (you cannot use it for visual purposes or to
extract lines plan from); it follows the input data points (Markers) exactly and is linear between the
data points.
• TriMesh surface is dependent on the number of data points used to generate the TriMesh.
• The aim of the TriMesh surface is to provide a quick route from line or point data to a vessel
surface model that may be used for analysis, like stability and seakeeping analysis.
Maxsurf Modeler (Basics)
• There are various methods to model your ship using Maxsurf Modeler.
The best method you can employ depends on the available data:
➢ Lines Plan
➢ Offset Table
➢ 3D model of a parent ship
➢ Main particulars only (Free modeling)
• The four methods are introduced in four separate presentations. You can
combine these different methods in your design.
Model preparation for
Stability calculations
Zero point and Perpendiculars
• Define Zero reference point
(Coordinate system) and hull
lines.
• Go to Data ➛ Frame of Reference
1. Define design water line (DWL)
2. Press find base
3. Press ( Set to DWL for Aft and Fwd
perpendiculars)
4. Set vertical Datum to Baseline
5. Set Longitudinal Datum to Aft Perp.
6. Press Ok
 Hull lines
• Define the hull lines (Data ➛ Design Grid)
• You can add Sections, Buttocks, Waterlines
and Diagonals.
• Add suitable number of Sections and
waterlines to your ship, then define the space
in between the lines and Press Ok
 Maxsurf Modeler
• Display the hull line (Display ➛ Contours
➛ activate Sections, Buttocks,
Waterlines, and DWL )
 Maxsurf Modeler
• Define vessel Type
• Monohull
• Catamaran
• Trimaran
 Maxsurf Modeler
• Define Windage surfaces:
• Go to the profile view ➛ Data ➛ Windage surfaces ➛
Define the wind direction and add surfaces to be used in
wind resistance Calclaution ➛ Add ➛ select surfaces
affected by wind and underwater surfaces ➛ Ok
Maxsurf Modeler
Windage surfaces
Maxsurf Modeler Help
• You can always refer to
Maxsurf user manual if you
need any help.
• Press F1.
• Or, (Help ➛ Maxsurf Modeler
Help)
• You can also get free online
training and certificate from
the following link.
http://apps.bentley.com/studentserver