225 GDS Helpsheet - Custom Waveforms in AdvDCS V2 devices
- Stefano Pietrosanti (Deactivated)
SOFTWARE
AdvDCS V2 Systems
Custom Waveforms in AdvDCS V2 devices
Some AdvDCS V2 (“Calamari”) systems allow the use of custom waveforms for dynamic stages. This helpsheet contains instructions on how to use, add or modify custom waveforms.
Default Waveform
By default, a cyclic dynamic stage consists of a sine wave of defined datum and amplitude. When custom waveforms are disabled, this is the waveform that will be performed by the system.
Custom waveforms
Custom waveforms are defined internally by a time / value table. The maximum custom waveform length is 16000 data points.
Each time instant is in units of fraction of wave period, therefore a time value of 0.5 will place that data point in the middle of the periodic wave.
Values are normalised to the range (-1,1) and are biased and scaled according to the chosen datum and amplitude. For example, a normal sine wave will be centered in 0 and have minimum and maximum of, respectively, -1 and 1. If, for example, the chosen amplitude is 10 and datum 3, the sine wave will have maximum of 13 an minimum of -7.
Pre-defined Waveforms
From the user interface it is possible to generate the following waveforms:
Name | Description | Graph |
|---|---|---|
Trapezoidal (AS-AG) | Ramp from datum to full amplitude in the first 0.1 fraction of period. Max amplitude up until 0.43. Ramp down to datum to 0.52. Datum until the end of the period. |  |
Haversine | Wave generated by the following equation: where i indicates the period fraction. | |
Haversine Pulse (AASHTO) | Same as the above, however the haversine is limited to the first 0.1 of period, whilst in the rest of the period the wave is held at datum. | |
Ramp | Values increase linearly from datum to maximum amplitude over the course of the period. It is suggested not to repeat this waveform for more than 1 cycle. |
User defined custom waveform
When the system allows it, it is possible to upload user-defined waveforms to AdvDCS V2 systems. User defined waveforms must consist of a .csv file where equally-time-spaced normalised value values are listed, separated by commas. Values must use the “.” point as decimal separator.
Interface
This section contains instructions on how to navigate the interface for using, adding or editing custom waveforms.
Waveform Manager
Open the AdvDCS V2 device overview and select the "Waveforms" tab. Click on the Waveform Manager button.
In the Waveform Manager you can add or modify custom waveforms. There are 8 custom waveform slots that allow the simultaneous use of 8 different custom waveforms.
From this window it is possible to set a name and description for the selected waveform. The two button in the bottom left corner allow to load user-defined waveforms from a CSV file or to generate them from the presets described above.
Once a waveform is added or generated, it is saved in the selected slot and can be used for dynamic control. Close the waveform manager once all the desired waveforms have been loaded.
Use custom waveform for dynamic control
To use it for a particular transducer control, select the controller in the Waveform tab of the Device Overview:
Select "Use Custom Waveform" and select the appropriate custom waveform:
Remember to deselect the “Use Custom Waveform” checkbox once the dynamic stage has finished