Libris Britannia 4/science library(b).zip/science library(b)/ENGINEER/H477.ZIP/PCAT2.DOC

Text File | 1990-12-05 | 17KB | 471 lines

     Compression Values

     Four real values are required to be input here.   Should you not
     have all the properties a null string will produce zero.   It is
     suggested that if you are unable to obtain these values from the
     material distributor, contact the manufacturer.   If this is not
     possible, then estimate a value.  Note: These are laid-up values.

     When the value is entered, it is converted to scientific notation
     so that it fits on the screen.  The original precision is saved
     on disk.


     Shear Values

     Two real values are required to be input here.   Should you not
     have all the properties a null string will produce zero.   It is
     suggested that if you are unable to obtain these values from the
     material distributor, contact the manufacturer.   If this is not
     possible, then estimate a value.   This is probably a calculated
     value as it is difficult to test for these properties within a
     solid laminate.

     When the value is entered, it is converted to scientific notation
     so that it fits on the screen.   The original precision is saved on
     disk.


     Poisson's Ratio

     Enter the ratio of the laminated ply in the warp direction  (0
     degrees).  This is a real value.


     Thermal Expansion Coefficient

     The current edition of COPAN/II does not involve non-mechanical
     loading so this value may be set to zero with a <CR>.   However,
     if you have it, enter it.


     Ply Thickness

     This is the laminated ply thickness.   This provides a default for
     LAMCON.   The value that you enter here is not used to modify the
     mechanical properties that you have entered previously.  PCAT
     will not make any assumptions using thickness or fiber volume.
     


     Fabric Cost

     Input the price that is paid to obtain the dry fabric.  The units
     will have been previously defined using the UNITS command.   DO
     NOT include the price of the resin as this will be computed in
     COSAN, the cost and weight module.

     Fabric Weight

     Enter the weight of the DRY fabric.  The units will have  been
     previously  defined as just mention above.   DO NOT include the
     weight of the resin as this will be computed in the COSAN module.
     eg.  24 ounces per square yard.

     Additional Text 1

     Whatever additional information you wish to store with the record
     is held in the last two data items.   The only limitation is that
     the string cannot exceed 32 characters and no commas are allowed.
     If you use more than 32, PCAT will ignore 33 and thereafter.

     Additional Text 2

     Same applies here as above.   Rather than duplicate the  text,
     please rotate your eyeballs a few degrees up and  read  again.
     Thanks.

     When the last data item has been entered into the  record, a
     message will be displayed in window 2 which indicates the current
     options.  Here it is possible to do one of three things:

              Save it     [S]
              Change it   [ESC]
              Abandon it  [SPACE BAR]

     As these functions have already been explained in the CORE CREATE
     section, we shall not repeat them here.


     Ply Edit

     To edit a ply record, the keyword PLY is entered at the Main>.
     Upon doing so, a prompt will appear to determine whether you wish
     to create or edit a ply record.

     The first letters of Create and Edit will be highlighted in
     bright white.  This time you use the [E] key.

     Turn back to the CORE CREATE section and review the procedures
     used there.  Everything should be nearly identical.
     


     FUNCTION KEYS

     In order to save you the effort of pressing extra keys, we have
     loaded some macros into the function keys F1-F10.   By  pressing
     one of these keys a predifined string is produced at the cursor.
     All of the strings are terminated with a <CR> which means the
     string produced will automatically be entered.   If by chance you
     press an incorrect  function, it is possible with most to
     terminate  the request with a null string entry.   (This  means
     pressing the <CR>.)

     The SWITCH command is important here because it acts as a toggle
     between two macro-setting procedures.   When you first  boot
     PCAT, a procedure is automatically called and 9 keywords are
     assigned to the Function Keys.   Rather than have you get into
     [Ctrl][F7] or [Alt][F1] we included a keyword that will allow you
     to toggle between the two procedures.


     The Keyword SWITCH

     By entering the keyword SWITCH you will observe that the keys
     change.   Each subsequent SWitch entry changes the keys to the
     opposite procedure.   So if the desired function is not visible,
     enter SWitch to see if it's in the other set of macros.   If not,
     you'll have to type it in yourself.   The following is a list of
     the function keys as defined  for version 1.0.   These may change
     in later  revisions, but for now the following will apply.

                    F1   HELP      F1  HELP
                    F2   CORE      F2  LOOK
                    F3   PLY       F3  PRINT
                    F4   DIR       F4  RENAME
                    F5   NAME      F5  ERASE
                    F6   DRIVE     F6  ROOM
                    F7   UNITS     F7  TIME
                    F8   NEW       F8  CLS
                    F9   EXIT      F9  EXIT



     THE PCAT DATA FILES

     !IMPORTANT NOTE!

     This section of the PCAT documentation is for those persons
     interested in using an editor to create or maintain the PCAT
     material files.   If you always use PCAT to create and edit the
     .MAT files then skip this.

     The COPAN System uses a variety of data files in the completing
     of the various calculations.   Some of these files are created by
     the user, others are generated transparently by other  modules.
     The transparent ones need not concern the user because they
     require no maintenance.  (That's why they're called transparent.)
     The user defined files are discussed here in the event you  wish
     to create or edit with your own text editor such as PC-WRITE  or
     PE.  (Or if you're really masochist: EDLIN)

     All files written by PCAT are of the ASCII variety.   This  means
     that when you look at the file, either on the screen or the
     printer, you can read it.  ASCII files are humanized.  Other file
     types  which are more efficient in disk access time do not allow
     this  option.   So this means that all you need to know is what
     sequence the text is saved in and you can create your own  PCAT
     database.

     Datafile Default Names

     When you use PCAT, the file names are automatically set  to
     provide a default.  You may use the predefined names  of
     PLYDATA.MAT or COREDATA.MAT or you have the option of changing
     them.

     These names might be changed because you think that PLYDATA and
     COREDATA  are foolish names or you might wish to develop multiple
     database  files for some specialized  reason.   Either way, the
     choice is yours.
     


     PLYDATA.MAT

     PLYDATA is of course, the filename given to the collection of
     data items representing ply properties.  After you have completed
     entering  one record of information,  (one record=one  ply)  PCAT
     will write the following 13 lines to the disk of your preference.

     Primary Description
     Secondary Text
     Resin % by weight
     Tensile Properties  1,2,3,4
     Compression Prop.  1,2,3,4
     Shear Properties  1,2
     Poisson, Thermal Exp.
     Laminated Thickness
     Cost per Weight Unit for Fabric
     Dry Fabric Weight
     Text 1
     Text 2
     Date + EOR marker


     Of  course,  when a ply is actually created,  the data items will
     will look more like this:

     Woven Roving
     Acme Glass Company
      45
      19000, 18000, 1000000, 1000000
      23000, 22000, 2000000, 2000000
      5000, 11000
     .27, .00039
     .039
      1.08
      24
     Resin used was GP Polyester
     Tested by Research Labs on 12/85
     02/15/86 *EOR*

     If you wish to change or just view the data within any .MAT file,
     call it up with an editor.  If you need more information on each
     item within these files, look back at the section titled CREATING
     CORE / PLY RECORDS.
     


     COREDATA.MAT

     The second text file which is handled by PCAT is the data file
     for the core material.   PCAT maintains a separate file for all
     core properties with each one capable of holding 50 core
     records.   Actually, the text file could contain more than this
     but PCAT will only work with the first 50.   In designing this
     program, a limit had to be established and 50 seemed like a nice
     round number.  Quite honestly however, we doubt that there are
     very many individuals who design with over 50 different cores.

     As with PLYDATA.MAT,  you have the option of changing or adding
     different filenames.  This way, if there was a need, you could
     maintain a seperate file for each core  manufacturer.   Examples
     might be KLEGE.MAT, DIVNY.MAT, HEXCEL.MAT and so on.  Later on,
     when working with the laminate construction program, it is a
     matter of a few keystrokes to call in the different database
     files.

     DATA SEQUENCE

     Data sequence is the order in which the data items are organized
     within the data file.  This organization pertains to which one is
     first, second all the way to the last one.

     When in PCAT,  after you have completed entering the data for one
     record,  PCAT  will append (or create if the record is the first)
     the  file  using the filename which has been defined  as  active.
     The default is active unless changed by the keyword FILE or NAME.

     PCAT writes these 14 items in the following order:

     Primary Core Description
     Secondary Description
     Density
     Compression Strength, Modulus
     Shear Strength, Modulus
     Tensile Strength, Modulus
     Poissons Ratio
     CostFile
     Text 1
     Text 2
     Date + * EOR *
     


     So a real core record might end up looking something like
     this:

     75 ACMECELL
     Acme Manufacturing
     4.5
     190, 8000
     80, 4500
     110, 6200
     .25
     ACMECOST
     Technical Contact:  Gomer Snerdly
     Telephone: [phone]
     02/15/86 * EOR *

     Much of this should be on the obvious side but if you've
     forgotten what each line represents, turn back to the section on
     CREATING CORE RECORDS.


     PCUNITS.001

     To keep track of the units which will be used  throughout the
     COPAN/II System,  PCAT also sets up a unit text file which is
     written in standard ASCII format.  This format means that you may
     create and edit via a text editor if you do not wish to use PCAT.
     The COPY CON:  function of DOS could also create this file very
     easily.

     However, before this can be accomplished, it is necessary  to
     understand the data sequence.

          1. Mechanical Properties
          2. Distance  (thickness)
          3. Temperature
          4. Monetary System
          5. Dry Fabric Weight
          6. Core Density
          7. Core Cost Base
          8. Fabric Cost Base
          9. Resin Cost Base

     These 9 data items apply to the actual units defined by the
     user.
     


     The data file that is eventually written to disk contains
     exactly twice this number of lines as follows:

     * Mechanical Units *
     PSI
     * Thickness *
     IN
     * Temperature *
     F
     * Monetary System *
     USD
     * Dry Fabric Weight *
     OZSQYD
     * Core Density *
     LBFT3
     * Core Cost Base *
     TH/SQFT
     * Fabric Cost Base *
     LB
     * Resin Cost Base *
     LB

     These extra lines are included for two reasons, one being the
     enhanced readability of the file.  The second reason is that at
     various times the string descriptions are required for printer
     output.   Rather than store these in the actual code, we put them
     out here.

     When you are creating your own UNIT file with a text editor,
     it is necessary that each variable data item (the ones in all
     CAPS) be recongized by the system.  This can be assured only with
     the use of predefined strings which have been declared within the
     other modules.  It does not matter whether these strings are in
     upper or lower case but they must not contain any extra
     characters.

     An example would be:   PSI is the same as psi

     However, LB/SQIN does not equal PSI nor does PSI equal P.S.I
     (due to the inclusion of the points between the letters)

     Remember that each data item is a system keyword that must be of
     a predefined format.   What is placed between the *'s is a header
     and may contain whatever information you feel adequate.
     


     Where you place these in the file is of importance  considering
     only the sequence from top to bottom.  This is because the file
     will be read assuming that the first data item is for the
     mechanical units, the second for distance and so on.  Only one
     data item is allowed per line.   Where each data item begins in
     the line (which column) is of no concern.

     Rather than explain each of these, the selection of unit keywords
     is given.   If your particular unit has been omitted we certainly
     do  apologize.   Please drop us a note and we shall be glad to
     include it in the next revision.


     Mechanical Properties

     Keywords   Description
     ========   ==========================
        PSI   :  Pounds per Square Inch
        KGM2  :  Kilograms per Square Meter
       KGmm2  :  Kilograms per Square Millimeter
           P  :  Pascals
         MPA  :  MegaPascals
          GP  :  GigaPascals
         NM2  :  Newtons per Square Meter
        Nmm2  :  Newtons per Square Millimeter
        DNM2  :  DecaNewtons per Sqaure Meter
       DNmm2  :  DecaNewtons per Square Millimeter

     Thickness

          IN  :  Inches
          MM  :  Millimeters
          FT  :  Feet
          M   :  Meters


     Temperature

           F  :  Fahrenheit
           C  :  Celsius

     Monetary System

     Because the monetary system is not used for any calculations, any
     string text is acceptable provided it does not contain any
     commas.  The maximum string length is 12 characters.
     


     Dry Fabric Weights

      OZSQYD  :  Ounces per Square Yard
      OZSQFT  :  Ounces per Square Foot
      GMSQM   :  Grams per Square Meter

     Core Density

       LBFT3  :  Pounds per Cubic Foot
        KGM3  :  Kilograms per Cubic Meter

     Core Cost Base
     (What is the core cost based on?)

      TH/SQFT :  Per Thickness per Square Foot
      KILO    :  Per Kilogram
      TH/SQME :  Per Thickness per Square Meter
      LB      :  Per Pound

     Fabric Cost Base

        LB    :  Pound
        KILO  :  Kilogram
        SQYD  :  Square Yard
        SQFT  :  Square Foot
        SQM   :  Square Meter

     Resin Cost Base

        LB    :  Pound
        KILO  :  Kilogram


     Remember, if you are writing your own files, to count the number
     of lines in the file when you are ready to save.   The total must
     be 18 or you will have problems later on.   If you have more  or
     less than 18 the dreaded Runtime Error # 16 will result.   These
     errors are considered fatal which means that everything comes  to
     a screeching halt until you correct the file.  So be careful not
     to screw up.


     One Last Note:

     Once again, if you have just finished reading this section on
     THE PCAT DATA FILES, be reminded that this section is for users
     that wish to work directly with the disk data files.  If you are
     not modifying these files with an editor or you are not writing
     your own custom expansion programs to run with COPAN/II, do not
     worry about what was written here.