# Volumes \[FEA]

Volumes are 3D solid finite elements used to model thick structural components where the full three-dimensional stress state is important. They support hexahedral (8-node) element formulations.

**Geometry**

**Node 1:** The first corner node of the volume element. Defines one vertex of the hexahedral solid.

**Node 2:** The second corner node of the volume element.

**Node 3:** The third corner node of the volume element.

**Node 4:** The fourth corner node of the volume element.

**Node 5:** The fifth corner node of the volume element.

**Node 6:** The sixth corner node of the volume element.

**Node 7:** The seventh corner node of the volume element.

**Node 8:** The eighth corner node of the volume element.

**Material:** The material assigned to this volume element. Provides the modulus of elasticity, Poisson's ratio, and unit weight for stiffness and self-weight calculations.

**Volume (readonly):** The computed volume of the element based on its corner node positions.

**Weight (readonly):** The computed self-weight of the element based on its volume and material unit weight.

## Global Offset

Global offsets shift the element corner points from the node locations in the global coordinate system.

**Node 1 Offset X:** Global X direction offset at Node 1.

**Node 1 Offset Y:** Global Y direction offset at Node 1.

**Node 1 Offset Z:** Global Z direction offset at Node 1.

**Node 2 Offset X:** Global X direction offset at Node 2.

**Node 2 Offset Y:** Global Y direction offset at Node 2.

**Node 2 Offset Z:** Global Z direction offset at Node 2.

**Node 3 Offset X:** Global X direction offset at Node 3.

**Node 3 Offset Y:** Global Y direction offset at Node 3.

**Node 3 Offset Z:** Global Z direction offset at Node 3.

**Node 4 Offset X:** Global X direction offset at Node 4.

**Node 4 Offset Y:** Global Y direction offset at Node 4.

**Node 4 Offset Z:** Global Z direction offset at Node 4.

**Node 5 Offset X:** Global X direction offset at Node 5.

**Node 5 Offset Y:** Global Y direction offset at Node 5.

**Node 5 Offset Z:** Global Z direction offset at Node 5.

**Node 6 Offset X:** Global X direction offset at Node 6.

**Node 6 Offset Y:** Global Y direction offset at Node 6.

**Node 6 Offset Z:** Global Z direction offset at Node 6.

**Node 7 Offset X:** Global X direction offset at Node 7.

**Node 7 Offset Y:** Global Y direction offset at Node 7.

**Node 7 Offset Z:** Global Z direction offset at Node 7.

**Node 8 Offset X:** Global X direction offset at Node 8.

**Node 8 Offset Y:** Global Y direction offset at Node 8.

**Node 8 Offset Z:** Global Z direction offset at Node 8.

## Local Offset

Local offsets shift the element corner points from the node locations in the element's local coordinate system.

**Node 1 Offset X:** Local x direction offset at Node 1.

**Node 1 Offset Y:** Local y direction offset at Node 1.

**Node 1 Offset Z:** Local z direction offset at Node 1.

**Node 2 Offset X:** Local x direction offset at Node 2.

**Node 2 Offset Y:** Local y direction offset at Node 2.

**Node 2 Offset Z:** Local z direction offset at Node 2.

**Node 3 Offset X:** Local x direction offset at Node 3.

**Node 3 Offset Y:** Local y direction offset at Node 3.

**Node 3 Offset Z:** Local z direction offset at Node 3.

**Node 4 Offset X:** Local x direction offset at Node 4.

**Node 4 Offset Y:** Local y direction offset at Node 4.

**Node 4 Offset Z:** Local z direction offset at Node 4.

**Node 5 Offset X:** Local x direction offset at Node 5.

**Node 5 Offset Y:** Local y direction offset at Node 5.

**Node 5 Offset Z:** Local z direction offset at Node 5.

**Node 6 Offset X:** Local x direction offset at Node 6.

**Node 6 Offset Y:** Local y direction offset at Node 6.

**Node 6 Offset Z:** Local z direction offset at Node 6.

**Node 7 Offset X:** Local x direction offset at Node 7.

**Node 7 Offset Y:** Local y direction offset at Node 7.

**Node 7 Offset Z:** Local z direction offset at Node 7.

**Node 8 Offset X:** Local x direction offset at Node 8.

**Node 8 Offset Y:** Local y direction offset at Node 8.

**Node 8 Offset Z:** Local z direction offset at Node 8.

## End Releases

End releases control the connection behavior at each corner node of the volume element in the global coordinate system. A value of 0 means the DOF is rigidly connected (default). A value of -1 means the DOF is released (free/hinged). A positive value represents a semi-rigid spring stiffness.

**Node 1 Tx (global):** Translation release in the global X direction at Node 1.

**Node 1 Ty (global):** Translation release in the global Y direction at Node 1.

**Node 1 Tz (global):** Translation release in the global Z direction at Node 1.

**Node 1 Rx (global):** Rotation release about the global X axis at Node 1.

**Node 1 Ry (global):** Rotation release about the global Y axis at Node 1.

**Node 1 Rz (global):** Rotation release about the global Z axis at Node 1.

**Node 2 Tx (global):** Translation release in the global X direction at Node 2.

**Node 2 Ty (global):** Translation release in the global Y direction at Node 2.

**Node 2 Tz (global):** Translation release in the global Z direction at Node 2.

**Node 2 Rx (global):** Rotation release about the global X axis at Node 2.

**Node 2 Ry (global):** Rotation release about the global Y axis at Node 2.

**Node 2 Rz (global):** Rotation release about the global Z axis at Node 2.

**Node 3 Tx (global):** Translation release in the global X direction at Node 3.

**Node 3 Ty (global):** Translation release in the global Y direction at Node 3.

**Node 3 Tz (global):** Translation release in the global Z direction at Node 3.

**Node 3 Rx (global):** Rotation release about the global X axis at Node 3.

**Node 3 Ry (global):** Rotation release about the global Y axis at Node 3.

**Node 3 Rz (global):** Rotation release about the global Z axis at Node 3.

**Node 4 Tx (global):** Translation release in the global X direction at Node 4.

**Node 4 Ty (global):** Translation release in the global Y direction at Node 4.

**Node 4 Tz (global):** Translation release in the global Z direction at Node 4.

**Node 4 Rx (global):** Rotation release about the global X axis at Node 4.

**Node 4 Ry (global):** Rotation release about the global Y axis at Node 4.

**Node 4 Rz (global):** Rotation release about the global Z axis at Node 4.

**Node 5 Tx (global):** Translation release in the global X direction at Node 5.

**Node 5 Ty (global):** Translation release in the global Y direction at Node 5.

**Node 5 Tz (global):** Translation release in the global Z direction at Node 5.

**Node 5 Rx (global):** Rotation release about the global X axis at Node 5.

**Node 5 Ry (global):** Rotation release about the global Y axis at Node 5.

**Node 5 Rz (global):** Rotation release about the global Z axis at Node 5.

**Node 6 Tx (global):** Translation release in the global X direction at Node 6.

**Node 6 Ty (global):** Translation release in the global Y direction at Node 6.

**Node 6 Tz (global):** Translation release in the global Z direction at Node 6.

**Node 6 Rx (global):** Rotation release about the global X axis at Node 6.

**Node 6 Ry (global):** Rotation release about the global Y axis at Node 6.

**Node 6 Rz (global):** Rotation release about the global Z axis at Node 6.

**Node 7 Tx (global):** Translation release in the global X direction at Node 7.

**Node 7 Ty (global):** Translation release in the global Y direction at Node 7.

**Node 7 Tz (global):** Translation release in the global Z direction at Node 7.

**Node 7 Rx (global):** Rotation release about the global X axis at Node 7.

**Node 7 Ry (global):** Rotation release about the global Y axis at Node 7.

**Node 7 Rz (global):** Rotation release about the global Z axis at Node 7.

**Node 8 Tx (global):** Translation release in the global X direction at Node 8.

**Node 8 Ty (global):** Translation release in the global Y direction at Node 8.

**Node 8 Tz (global):** Translation release in the global Z direction at Node 8.

**Node 8 Rx (global):** Rotation release about the global X axis at Node 8.

**Node 8 Ry (global):** Rotation release about the global Y axis at Node 8.

**Node 8 Rz (global):** Rotation release about the global Z axis at Node 8.

## Group

**Group:** The FE group to which this element belongs. Groups are used to organize elements for load application, result extraction, staged construction, and filtering purposes.

**Casting Day:** The day on which the element's concrete was cast, used for time-dependent staged construction analysis. The element's age at any construction stage is computed as (Stage Construction Day − Casting Day).

## Overrides

Property overrides allow you to manually specify material properties for this element, overriding the values from the assigned material.

**Materials Modulus of Elasticity:** Overrides the Young's modulus (E) of the assigned material for this element.

**Materials Poisson's Ratio:** Overrides the Poisson's ratio (ν) of the assigned material for this element.


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