2026-03-01
11:09 PM
- last edited on
2026-03-06
01:47 AM
by
Laszlo Nagy
I need to create a "curved tunnel" for my project for university (i am very bad at ArchiCAD). All the tunnels in the tutorials are just straight, but I want to make a tunnel that bends.
I don't know where to even start, I tried with the shell tool and morph tool but I never seem to get the desired shape.
I drew up a quick model on SketchUp to show you what I mean by curved tunnel.
Direct me please!
Operating system used: Windows
Solved! Go to Solution.
2026-03-02 01:10 AM
I would make a complex profile of the wall section (arch) and use that with railing tool.
Make sure to click all other components off, and use only one rail.
Make sure the complex profile of yours is allowed to be used by railing tool, after that you can assign it to the railing as "own proflie", and start modeling the cave freely just hitting the joint points in 2D or 3D, and then use the pet palette to make rounded corners etc. You can run it in a plane, or freely in 3D space too if needed. Just make sure to not go too wild with the corners and/or junctions, because the junctions might get tricky on you.
That would be the easiest way I think.
btw. I have modelled water slides this way lately. Earlier i used my own object for that, but I think railing tool is pretty good at this.
2026-03-02 01:10 AM
I would make a complex profile of the wall section (arch) and use that with railing tool.
Make sure to click all other components off, and use only one rail.
Make sure the complex profile of yours is allowed to be used by railing tool, after that you can assign it to the railing as "own proflie", and start modeling the cave freely just hitting the joint points in 2D or 3D, and then use the pet palette to make rounded corners etc. You can run it in a plane, or freely in 3D space too if needed. Just make sure to not go too wild with the corners and/or junctions, because the junctions might get tricky on you.
That would be the easiest way I think.
btw. I have modelled water slides this way lately. Earlier i used my own object for that, but I think railing tool is pretty good at this.
2026-03-02 04:22 PM
Complex Profile of the tunnel profile, and drawing it as a wall or beam should work ok.
2026-03-02 06:30 PM
Thank very much for your answer!
I finally got these tunnels as I wanted. Not gonna lie I didn't even know what a complex profile was at first 😭 but I got it.
Thanks again.
2026-03-02 06:39 PM
Glad to help. Ans as JeffH expressed above, you can do a lot with complex profiles inside other tools too.
ps. you seem to be a really quick learner 🙂
2026-03-02 07:41 PM
complex profile + beam or railing... shells or morphs could work, but I'd use the beam as a starting point, railing if you need curve/slope