CHAPTER 8

8 Volume Modelling

Volume Models are similar to EQUI elements. They may be used for modelling any item in AVEVA E3D that
will be constructed from primitives but is not required to be displayed in the Model Explorer as an EQUI
element.

A typical use of volume models may include plant Civils items (e.g. concrete slabs, concrete plinths, site
roads) or the modelling of escape routes/access obstruction volumes. Volume models can also be used as a
method of reserving space within the plant layout for equipment items not yet ready for modelling.

8.1 The Volume Model Hierarchy

Volume Model (VOLM) elements are owned by ZONEs.

VOLM elements have some of the attributes of an EQUI and may own primitives
directly, with the exception of Nozzles.

VOLM elements may own one or more optional Sub-Volume Model (SVOLM)
elements which may own any primitive except Nozzles. The SVOLM elements are used
to break down Volume Models into sub-parts and are similar, and have some of the
same attributes, as SUBE elements.

8.2 Creating VOLM and SVOLM Elements

On the GENERAL tab, in the Volumes group, clicking the Volume button
displays the Volume Model form.

The form is similar to the Create Equipment form described earlier in the
training guide, except that there is no Attributes button as VOLM
elements do not have the attributes that are set by this option.

VOLM elements may be named and positioned, the option lists and
textboxes enable its origin to be set with respect to any element, as for an
EQUI element.

With a VOLM as the CE, on the GENERAL tab, in the Volumes group,
clicking the Sub-Volume button displays the Sub Volume Model form.

This form is similar to the Create Sub-equipment form described earlier

in this training guide.

SVOLM elements may be named and positioned, the option lists and
textboxes enable its origin to be set with respect to any element, as for a
SUBE element.

Copyright 2013. 89 www.aveva.com

AVEVA Solutions Limited and its subsidiaries.
All rights reserved.
 AVEVA Everything3D (2.1)
Equipment Modelling TM-1811

8.3 Creating Primitives

All primitives, except NOZZ elements may be owned directly by VOLM or by SVOLM elements. Primitives
are created and modified using the functions on the EQUIPMENT tab.

8.4 Creating Volume and Sub Volume Models A Worked Example

In the Training project all of the civil works and foundations are modelled using Volume Models and are
created in suitable Civils SITEs. Only members of the Civils team have access to these SITEs. In order to
carry out the worked examples and exercises it is necessary to switch user.

On the TOOLS tab, in the Training group, click the Setup button to display the Training Setup form.
Navigate to the Setup Tools tab and enter the following details for the new user:

Username: A.CIVILMAN

Password: A

Click the Switch User button and close the form.

In this worked example volume models are added to the Civils works to represent reserved walkway areas
which in reality have no physical geometry but need to be used during clash checking to ensure appropriate
room and access is available for plant personnel and machinery.

8.4.1 Creating the Walkway UDET

Clear the 3D View and add /ZONE-CIVIL-AREA01 to it.

On the TOOLS tab, in the Display group, click the Commands button to display the Command Window.

In the Command Window enter NEW :WALKWAY /AREA01-WALKWAYS. This creates a user defined
element with the base type VOLM.

User Defined Element Types can only be created using the Command line.

The User Defined Element Type :WALKWAY has been previously defined in the Lexicon module. Query
the attributes and note that the ActType is :WALKWAY and the Type is VOLM.

In the Modify group, of the HOME tab, from the Move button option
list, click the Position button to display the Explicit Position form.

Enter the Explicit Position

West 318000

North 302500

Up 100000.

Click the Apply button and close the form.

Copyright 2013. 90 www.aveva.com

AVEVA Solutions Limited and its subsidiaries.
All rights reserved.
 AVEVA Everything3D (2.1)
Equipment Modelling TM-1811

8.4.2 Creating the Walkway Primitives

The walkways will be made with a combination of BOX and Extrusion primitives. Extrusions are 2D shapes
that are extruded through a distance. An extrusion is made up of three elements:

EXTR the extrusion itself. The Position attribute holds the World position of the extrusion origin and
the Height attribute holds the extrusion distance.

LOOP this is the 2D shape that owns a series of vertices, one at each change in direction of the
shape.

VERT these are the vertices. Their position is expressed in local co-ordinates, i.e. with respect to the
EXTR origin.

From the EQUPMENT tab, Defaults group, change

the Representation style to Obstruction and the
Obstruction level to Soft

In the Create group, pick Extrusion from the second

row of the Primitives gallery.

Enter E 0 N 0 U 0 into the co-ordinates to define the

first point at the origin of the WALKWAY.

Using the Contextual Editor, continue creating the

remaining vertices using the data from the following
table. All vertices are at ground level, i.e. U 0.

Vertex No. East North

2 13000 0
3 13000 -13490
4 11500 -13490
5 11500 -1100
6 0 -1100

After creating vertex 6, press the Return key to

advance.

When prompted for the height, input 2600.

Copyright 2013. 91 www.aveva.com

AVEVA Solutions Limited and its subsidiaries.
All rights reserved.
 AVEVA Everything3D (2.1)
Equipment Modelling TM-1811

Right click the extrusion in the Model Explorer and click Rename. Using the rename element form, name
the extrusion WW-01_1.

On the VIEW tab, in the Settings group, click the Graphics button to display the Graphics Settings form.
On the Representation tab, select 50% from the Obstruction/Visibility Translucency options list and click
the Apply button to display the walkway.

Close the Graphics Settings form.

Copyright 2013. 92 www.aveva.com

AVEVA Solutions Limited and its subsidiaries.
All rights reserved.
 AVEVA Everything3D (2.1)
Equipment Modelling TM-1811

The next step is to add a second walkway. This will be modelled as a

box.

Set the Defaults to Obstruction Volume and the Obstruction Level

to Soft.

Enter the box creation function from the button in the primitives
gallery, then press the down arrow and choose the Explicit option.

Choose the origin at these co-ordinates E -316250mm N 293880mm

U 101300mm.

Then define the following dimensions:

Xlength 1500mm

Ylength 9600mm

Zlength 2600mm

Name the box WW-01_2.

Copyright 2013. 93 www.aveva.com

AVEVA Solutions Limited and its subsidiaries.
All rights reserved.
 AVEVA Everything3D (2.1)
Equipment Modelling TM-1811

Exercise 7 Create Stairway Volumes

The Equipment Support structure in /ZONE-STRUCTURAL-AREA01 requires access stairs which will be
added as a separate design process. Using Volume models create a suitable reserved volume for these
stairs which can be also used as an access reservation volume once the stairs are modelled.

Two flights of stairs should be modelled as two extrusions. The top flight is 1130mm wide and the bottom
1260mm wide. The positions, wrt World, for the required vertices are shown below.

Ensure that the extrusions are set as Obstruction Volume and Soft.

Both extrusions should sit under a single VOLM named STWAY-001, each extrusion should be named
STWAY-001_1 and STWAY-001_2.

Copyright 2013. 94 www.aveva.com

AVEVA Solutions Limited and its subsidiaries.
All rights reserved.