TRL Engineering
ZULIC STUDIO worked with TRL Engineering to develop a series of technical 3D visualisations explaining the repair and relining of underground fuel storage tanks.
The project required detailed modelling of the existing tank structure, surrounding ground conditions and internal lining system, allowing TRL’s engineering solution to be communicated clearly through cutaway imagery, material close-ups and staged visual representations.
Existing Tank Condition
The first stage of the visualisation focused on representing the condition of an ageing underground fuel tank and the potential consequences of deterioration.
The surrounding ground, tank surface, corrosion and underground installation were modelled in detail to clearly communicate the type of problem TRL’s repair system is designed to address.
Cutaway Tank Construction
To explain the repair process clearly, the tank was reconstructed as a detailed cutaway model, exposing the internal structure while retaining the surrounding underground environment.
This allowed the relationship between the original tank shell and the new internal lining system to be shown in a way that would be difficult to communicate through photography alone.
Fibreglass Lining System
The repaired tank was then visualised with the internal structural lining installed, clearly demonstrating how a new reinforced layer is formed inside the existing tank.
Particular attention was given to the thickness, shape, layered construction and continuity of the lining so the final imagery accurately represented the engineering concept rather than simply functioning as a stylised illustration.
Material Detail & Technical CGI
One of the most technically demanding parts of the project was recreating the lining material at close range.
The fibre structure, layered construction and surface characteristics had to be developed carefully so the material behaved visually like the real reinforced system. This required a level of material modelling more similar to technical product CGI than conventional architectural rendering.
Technical Visualisation for Complex Systems
This project demonstrates how 3D visualisation can be used to explain complex engineering processes, internal construction and specialist materials that are difficult to communicate through conventional photography or drawings alone.
By combining detailed modelling, material development and cutaway visualisation, ZULIC STUDIO was able to transform a technical repair process into a clear and understandable visual story.