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Flexible Automation for Servo‐Controlled Testing
Author(s) -
GOPALARATNAM VELLORE S.,
YANG GWOSYANG
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
computer‐aided civil and infrastructure engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.773
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1467-8667
pISSN - 1093-9687
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-8667.1990.tb00379.x
Subject(s) - data acquisition , computer science , servo , graphics , automation , computer hardware , dynamic testing , software , control system , servomotor , engineering , mechanical engineering , artificial intelligence , computer graphics (images) , electrical engineering , software engineering , programming language , operating system
The paper presents an efficient method of flexibly automating test control and data acquisition functions for servo‐controlled testing. A systems analysis approach coupled with structured design is used in developing the system. With hardware that includes (a) a personal computer, (b) a servo‐controlled electrohydraulic testing machine equipped with a special type of digital function generator, and (c) a multipurpose data acquisition board, an automated test control and data acquisition system for servo‐controlled materials/structural/mechanical testing has been developed. The servo‐controlled materials/structural/mechanical testing system allows (1) automated control of the test, (2) rapid and reliable acqusition of several channels of data from static or fast‐rate tests subject to periodic or nonperiodic loading, and (3) realtime (or nearly real‐time) graphics of the test characteristics in order to allow the operator to monitor the test. The communication and postprocessing options allow user‐supplied software to be incorporated into the automated system for advanced non‐real‐time functions. These options include noise filtering, signal averaging, mathemtical analyses and processing, report quality graphics, and file transfer features. The system features have been validated through a series of load‐controlled direct tension tests on an aluminum specimen. The system has been used for successfully carrying out an elaborate research program on fracture toughness testing of fiber‐reinforced concrete in a flexural loading configuration.