Add volume() method to Mesh class with optional performance parameters

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 * Added `compas_rhino.install_with_pip` with corresponding command line utility `install_in_rhino`.
 * Added support for `.stp` file extension in addition to `.step` for `RhinoBrep.from_step()` and `RhinoBrep.to_step()` methods.
+* Added `volume()` method to `compas.datastructures.Mesh` for computing the volume of closed meshes using signed volume of triangles.
 
 ### Changed
 

src/compas/datastructures/mesh/mesh.py

@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
 from compas.geometry import distance_line_line
 from compas.geometry import distance_point_plane
 from compas.geometry import distance_point_point
+from compas.geometry import dot_vectors
 from compas.geometry import length_vector
 from compas.geometry import midpoint_line
 from compas.geometry import normal_polygon
@@ -3882,6 +3883,75 @@ def area(self):
         """
         return sum(self.face_area(fkey) for fkey in self.faces())
 
+    def volume(self, copy=True, unify_cycles=True):
+        """Calculate the volume of the mesh.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        copy : bool, optional
+            If True, a copy of the mesh is made before computation to avoid modifying the original.
+            Default is True.
+        unify_cycles : bool, optional
+            If True, face cycles are unified to ensure consistent orientation.
+            Default is True.
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        float | None
+            The volume of the mesh if the mesh is closed, None otherwise.
+
+        Notes
+        -----
+        The volume is computed using the signed volume of tetrahedra formed by each
+        triangulated face and the origin. This method works for both convex and
+        non-convex meshes, as long as they are closed and properly oriented.
+
+        The volume is only meaningful for closed meshes. For open meshes, this method
+        returns None.
+
+        When faces are non-convex, the triangulation might not be correct, since it uses
+        the centroid of the face. For accurate results with non-convex faces, consider
+        using a mesh with triangulated faces.
+
+        By default, the mesh is copied internally and face cycles are unified to ensure
+        correct orientation before computing the volume. These operations can be disabled
+        by setting ``copy=False`` and ``unify_cycles=False`` for performance in cases where
+        the mesh is already correctly oriented or when the original mesh can be modified.
+
+        Examples
+        --------
+        >>> from compas.datastructures import Mesh
+        >>> mesh = Mesh.from_polyhedron(6)  # Create a cube
+        >>> volume = mesh.volume()
+        >>> volume is not None
+        True
+
+        """
+        if not self.is_closed():
+            return None
+
+        # Make a copy to avoid modifying the original mesh
+        mesh_to_use = self.copy() if copy else self
+
+        # Unify cycles to ensure consistent face orientation
+        if unify_cycles:
+            mesh_to_use.unify_cycles()
+
+        # Use built-in triangulation to get triangulated faces
+        vertices, faces = mesh_to_use.to_vertices_and_faces(triangulated=True)
+
+        volume = 0.0
+        for face in faces:
+            # Each face is now a triangle (3 vertices)
+            a, b, c = [vertices[i] for i in face]
+            # Signed volume of tetrahedron formed by triangle and origin
+            # V = (1/6) * (a dot (b cross c)) where a, b, c are the vertices
+            bc = cross_vectors(b, c)
+            vol = dot_vectors(a, bc) / 6.0
+            volume += vol
+
+        return abs(volume)
+
     def centroid(self):
         """Calculate the mesh centroid.
 

tests/compas/datastructures/test_mesh.py

@@ -1069,6 +1069,53 @@ def test_normal():
     )
 
 
+def test_volume():
+    import math
+
+    # Test with a box (3x4x5)
+    box = Box.from_width_height_depth(3, 4, 5)
+    mesh = Mesh.from_shape(box)
+    volume = mesh.volume()
+    expected_volume = 3 * 4 * 5  # 60
+    assert TOL.is_close(volume, expected_volume)
+
+    # Test with a smaller box (2x2x2)
+    box2 = Box.from_width_height_depth(2, 2, 2)
+    mesh2 = Mesh.from_shape(box2)
+    volume2 = mesh2.volume()
+    expected_volume2 = 2 * 2 * 2  # 8
+    assert TOL.is_close(volume2, expected_volume2)
+
+    # Test with a tetrahedron from polyhedron
+    # Platonic tetrahedron has known volume based on edge length
+    tet = Mesh.from_polyhedron(4)
+    volume = tet.volume()
+    assert volume is not None
+    assert volume > 0
+
+    # Test with a sphere approximation
+    sphere_mesh = Mesh.from_shape(Sphere(radius=1.0), u=32, v=32)
+    volume = sphere_mesh.volume()
+    assert volume is not None
+    expected_sphere_volume = (4.0 / 3.0) * math.pi
+    # Allow for ~1% error due to discretization
+    assert TOL.is_close(volume, expected_sphere_volume, rtol=0.02)
+
+    # Test with an open mesh (should return None)
+    mesh = Mesh.from_obj(compas.get("faces.obj"))
+    volume = mesh.volume()
+    assert volume is None
+
+    # Test optional parameters
+    box3 = Box.from_width_height_depth(2, 3, 4)
+    mesh3 = Mesh.from_shape(box3)
+
+    # Test with copy=False and unify_cycles=False (should still work for well-oriented mesh)
+    volume3 = mesh3.volume(copy=False, unify_cycles=False)
+    expected_volume3 = 2 * 3 * 4  # 24
+    assert TOL.is_close(volume3, expected_volume3)
+
+
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # vertex geometry
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------------