How can I obtain this type of topology?

BWing2020

I currently have a 3D model (polygon mesh) roughly like this.

What method can I use to obtain the topology shown in the image below? Thank you.

poopipe

For this specific example you could make it by hand in less than an hour using normal modelling techniques - which  would certainly be quicker than looking for a magic bullet

I'm not aware of a general algorithm that would get the correct end result from that starting point - this stuff is hard.
@Klunk might have some ideas though

gnoop

I would try decimate modifier in blender . May require manual cut  in the middle and  a few  vertex groups  for  different decimate values .   Or just  planar mode first. higher angle > more decimated. 

Well. I would actually just make  a vector svg. file in Inkscape or any other 2d editor   and import it  as 3d shape  . Works just fine in Blender too.

okidoki

For example in blender, i'm sure other apps has some similar tools:
Starting with two circle curves rotated (with the array modifier and en empty) one get some prototype:



Converting to mesh and using just one half of a third of that by adding a mirror modifier and the rotated array modifer again:



Of course using some reference image to match the proportions better can help. (20 minutes because i was palying too long with the curves to get details which are not that easy this way.)

poopipe

<10 minutes - started with a tube, offset and rotated the middle, same caveats as above regarding proportions

Neox

tbh i am more wondering how you created the topology of the above example

Klunk

if using max....

it's the first shape mirrored and then rotated 120 degrees twice
the geometry is edit mesh on top of a spline shape which was created using edit spline booleans you need to then manually refine the spline to get the required geometry density then it's just mirror clone rotate
the base splines...

as you can see I could have been a bit more consistent with the refine, it's worth noting that you should be really sure that you have a copy of the shape before refinement as it's a bugger to edit after.