This data category is used to input the physical geometry and parameters relating to the physical geometry of elements input in Data Category 2 and are referred to as GEOMETRIC PROPERTIES. Geometric properties should be thought of as a table of values which are indexed by the geometric group numbers on the Element Topology Data Record (Data Category 2).

The parameters input within this data category are only referred to by the geometric group numbers on the Element Topology Data Record (Data Category 2).

Each entry in the geometric properties table defined within this data category is associated only with a particular element type but is not specifically associated with any one structure (unless a STRC data record is defined within this data category). This means that many elements, provided they are the same type, may reference the same geometric group number and several structures may also reference the same group number.