6. Review output files

The identification tag for this tutorial is PDS-AAF. Input files for this tutorial are in the folder named PDS-AAF in tutorial input files.

6.1. Tutorial overview

This tutorial covers:

  • Locating simulation results data
  • Simulation results folder structure
  • Data file contents created by simulation
  • Additional analysis tools

6.2. View results files

Every simulation creates a Results subfolder in the project directory. This is filled with data as the simulation progresses. Each file is typically an ASCII text file that can be edited with a text editor [1]. The results folder is separated into subfolders for each DObject’s results. Most files have the extension .dat. There is a header at the top of each output file that describes the format of the information. The first column is typically the time stamp and is printed at every output interval.

The Initial folder contains all the files used to run the simulation. By selecting Initial.PDSi, PST will open and a new simulation can be executed/edited using the same input files.

The Restart folder contains state information of each DObject at predefined intervals throughout the simulation. This state information can be used as an initial state to start a new simulation.

The TerminalIC folder contains .dat files for each DObject, where the state is the final state from the simulation. These files are automatically created when a simulation completes. These .dat files can be used as an initial state to start a new simulation. All the files pertaining to the environment are located directly in the Results folder.

6.3. ASCII .dat output files

All the results are written in ASCII characters for readability and the ability to import into third party software such as Matlab or Octave for further analysis.

6.4. Experimenting with results files

  • Make a copy of the cable simulation folder or open the cable simulation project in PST and use the Copy button to create a new project.
  • Increase the diameter of the wire rope to 0.1 m.
  • Run the simulation.
  • Open the tension output file for each cable and compare the tensions.
[1]A good freely available text editor for loading ProteusDS files is Notepad++.