# Visualize 2D data as a 3D radially symmetrical solid
**URL:** https://discourse.paraview.org/t/visualize-2d-data-as-a-3d-radially-symmetrical-solid/3652
**Category:** ParaView Support
**Created:** [February 24, 2020, 4:11pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/visualize-2d-data-as-a-3d-radially-symmetrical-solid/3652 "2020-02-24T16:11:24Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@dstrelnikov](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/dstrelnikov)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2020, 4:11pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/visualize-2d-data-as-a-3d-radially-symmetrical-solid/3652/1 "2020-02-24T16:11:24Z")
Hello!
I’m using Paraview to visualize a solution of a heat equation performed by FEniCS.
The body and the heat distribution in it are radially symmetrical, so I programmed my equation in the cylindrical coordinates and solve it in a 2D domain (neglecting the angle coordinate).
Is there a way to visualize the solution as a 3D “solid of revolution” in Paraview? I.e. to map my data `(r,z) -> (r,z,phi) -> (x,y,z)`.
My wish seems to be quite standard, however I couldn’t find any filter for it.
---
### Author:  [@GregVernon](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/GregVernon)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2020, 9:46pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/visualize-2d-data-as-a-3d-radially-symmetrical-solid/3652/2 "2020-02-24T21:46:43Z")
Rotational Extrusion is likely what you’re looking for. Note that I think the axis of rotation is restricted to “about the Z-axis” so you may need to use the transform filter to rotate your data. @cory.quammen - do you know if a user can specify the axis of rotation?
---
### Author:  [@dstrelnikov](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/dstrelnikov)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2020, 9:02am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/visualize-2d-data-as-a-3d-radially-symmetrical-solid/3652/3 "2020-02-25T09:02:35Z")
Dear Greg, thank you for a fast and precise answer! For a moment I was confused why Paraview can’t apply “Rotation Extrusion” to my data but then I managed to do it after “Extract Surface” as your screenshot says. It works!
---
### Author:  [@Richard](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/Richard)
#### Post date: [June 24, 2020, 2:33pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/visualize-2d-data-as-a-3d-radially-symmetrical-solid/3652/4 "2020-06-24T14:33:03Z")
Well the rotational extrusion is not offered in my case (with or without transformation). Any clue ? @GregVernon
---
### Author:  [@dstrelnikov](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/dstrelnikov)
#### Post date: [June 26, 2020, 10:35am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/visualize-2d-data-as-a-3d-radially-symmetrical-solid/3652/5 "2020-06-26T10:35:43Z")
Have you already tried to apply the “Extract Surface” filter first?
---
### Author:  [@Richard](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/Richard)
#### Post date: [June 26, 2020, 11:00am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/visualize-2d-data-as-a-3d-radially-symmetrical-solid/3652/6 "2020-06-26T11:00:56Z")
@dstrelnikov Yes and it worked. But what is the exact meaning of that filter “extract Region Surface” … Making the data purely 2D ?
---
### Author:  [@dstrelnikov](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/dstrelnikov)
#### Post date: [June 26, 2020, 11:03am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/visualize-2d-data-as-a-3d-radially-symmetrical-solid/3652/7 "2020-06-26T11:03:31Z")
Honestly, I have no idea 🙂
---
### Author:  [@woodscn](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/woodscn)
#### Post date: [July 9, 2020, 10:12pm UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/visualize-2d-data-as-a-3d-radially-symmetrical-solid/3652/8 "2020-07-09T22:12:03Z")
The Extract Surface filter converts the Unstructured grid to a PolyData object, which is what Rotational Extrusion operates on.
---
### Author:  [@Richard](https://discourse.paraview.org/u/Richard)
#### Post date: [July 10, 2020, 7:41am UTC](https://discourse.paraview.org/t/visualize-2d-data-as-a-3d-radially-symmetrical-solid/3652/9 "2020-07-10T07:41:55Z")
Thank you Nathan. Why the Rotational Extrusion can not directly operate on the Unstructured grid