detector settings, Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controller settings, wave
program settings, ramp rates, and the engineering units associated with each
input and output channel.
The Operation menu on the main panel of the MTS control software
provides access to the control panels for operation and real-time control of the
wave generators, instrumentation bridge, and the beach profile indicator. The
beach profile indicator control panel allows the user to select all of the
parameters required to conduct a fully automated beach profile survey, including
the number and location of each transect and the horizontal speed of the beach
profile indicator. Another control panel in this menu activates the data recorder,
which allows the user to record (or collect) data from any or all analog and
digital input and output channels. The most common channels to record are the
analog output signals associated with the wave gauges and current meters.
The Display menu on the main panel of the MTS control software provides
various options for displaying the analog and digital data, as well as error
messages from the real-time control system. Two options provide access to two
digital meters, which are the modern equivalent of a digital voltmeter. These
digital meters are most useful for monitoring signals with a low frequency of
oscillation, such as the position of the instrumentation bridge, or the still-water
level recorded with the wave gauges prior to an experiment. Another option
provides access to a digital oscilloscope, allowing the user to display the output
signal from any of the analog or digital channels. The digital oscilloscope is
most useful for monitoring output signals characterized by a higher frequency of
oscillation, such as the output signal from the wave gauges or current meters,
during operation the facility. Another control panel allows the user to read error
messages generated by system events, such as error messages from the limit
A general description on how to operate the wave generators and
instrumentation bridge, as well as a detailed discussion on how to use all of the
control panels in the MTS control software, can be found in Chapter 4 of the
Operation Manual, MTS Systems Corporation (1998).
GEDAP Synthesis and Analysis Package
GEDAP is a comprehensive software system for the analysis and
management of laboratory data and includes real-time experiment control and
data acquisition functions. GEDAP was designed with particular emphasis on
random wave generation and analysis in hydraulics laboratory basins.
GEDAP is being used in the LSTF to perform the following tasks:
a. Calibrate the wave generators.
b. Synthesize wave machine drive signals for regular and random wave
generation.
various angles of wave approach.
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Chapter 6
Experiment Control, Data Acquisition, and Analysis Packages
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