ME'scopeVES Reference Manual - Basic Operations

MMEE’’ssccooppeeVVEESS RReeffeerreennccee MMaannuuaall

VVoolluummee IIIIAA –– BBaassiicc OOppeerraattiioonnss

(February 2014)

Notice

Information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of Vibrant Technology. Except as otherwise noted, names, companies, and data used in examples, sample outputs, or screen shots, are fictitious and are used solely to illustrate potential applications of the software.

Warranty

Vibrant Technology, Inc. warrants that (a) the software in this product will perform substantially in accordance with the accompanying documentation, for a period of one (1) year from the date of delivery, and that (b) any hardware accompanying the software will be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one (1) year from the date of delivery. During this period, if a defect is reported to Vibrant Technology, replacement software or hardware will be provided to the customer at no cost, excluding delivery charges. Any replacement software will be warranted for the remainder of the original warranty period or thirty (30) days, whichever is longer.

This warranty shall not apply to defects resulting from improper or inadequate maintenance by the customer, customer supplied software or interfacing, unauthorized modification or misuse, operation outside of the environmental specifications for the product, or improper site preparation or maintenance. In the event that the software does not materially operate as warranted above, the sole remedy of the customer (and the entire liability of Vibrant Technology) shall be the correction or detour of programming errors attributable to Vibrant Technology. The software should not be relied on as the sole basis to solve a problem whose incorrect solution could result in injury to a person or property. If the software is employed in such a manner, it is at the entire risk of the customer, and Vibrant Technology disclaims all liability for such misuse.

NO OTHER WARRANTY IS EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. VIBRANT TECHNOLOGY SPECIFICALLY MAKES NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND WITH REGARD TO THIS MATERIAL, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANT ABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

THE REMEDIES PROVIDED HEREIN ARE THE CUSTOMER'S SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDIES. VIBRANT TECHNOLOGY SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES IN CONNECTION WITH THE FURNISHING, PERFORMANCE, OR USE OF THIS PRODUCT, WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT, OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY.

Copyright

The software described in this document is copyrighted by Vibrant Technology, Inc. or its suppliers and is protected by United States copyright laws and international treaty provisions. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this program, or any portion of it, may result in severe civil and criminal penalties, and will be prosecuted to the maximum extent possible under the law.

You may make copies of the software only for backup or archival purposes. No part of this manual may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means for any purpose without the express written permission of Vibrant Technology.

Copyright 1992-2014 by Vibrant Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America.

Vibrant Technology, Inc.

5 Erba Lane, Suite B Scotts Valley, CA 95066

phone: (831) 430-9045 fax: (831) 430-9057

E-mail: [email protected] http://www.vibetech.com

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Table of Contents ME'scope Window Commands ........................................................................................ 1

Project Fly Out Panel ................................................................................................... 1 Right Click Menu.......................................................................................................... 1 Menu Commands ........................................................................................................ 2

Opening a Project ........................................................................................................... 2 Opening Data Files ...................................................................................................... 3 Saving Data Files......................................................................................................... 3

Project Folder Tabs ......................................................................................................... 4 Opening a Project From a Folder Tab ......................................................................... 4 Moving a Fly-out Panel ................................................................................................ 4 Creating a New Folder Tab .......................................................................................... 5

Adding a File to the open Project .................................................................................... 5 Opening a Data File in ME'scope .................................................................................... 5

Adding a File to the Currently Open Project ................................................................ 5 Project | New Project ....................................................................................................... 6 Project | Open Project ..................................................................................................... 6 Project | Close Project ..................................................................................................... 7 Project | Save Project ...................................................................................................... 7 Project | Save Project As ................................................................................................. 7 Project | Save a Project Copy.......................................................................................... 8 Project | Open Substructure Library ................................................................................ 8

Drawing Assistant SubStructure Tab ........................................................................... 8 Project | Save ME'scope Graphics .................................................................................. 8 Project | ME'scope Options ............................................................................................. 8

Display Tab .................................................................................................................. 9 Language list ............................................................................................................ 9 Menu Style list .......................................................................................................... 9 Clear User Settings .................................................................................................. 9 Show Start Page ...................................................................................................... 9 Show More Prompts ................................................................................................. 9

General Tab ................................................................................................................. 9

Reference Volume IIA - Basic Operations

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User Interface Sounds ........................................................................................... 10 Send Internal Errors to Vibrant Technology ........................................................... 10 Include Contact Email Address .............................................................................. 10 Make Backup Files ................................................................................................. 10 Number of Edits Saved .......................................................................................... 10

Numbers Tab ............................................................................................................. 10 Format .................................................................................................................... 10 Maximum Number of Digits .................................................................................... 10

Project | Open Project on Startup .................................................................................. 10 Project | Exit ME'scope .................................................................................................. 11 Windows Menu .............................................................................................................. 11

Windows | Arrange Windows | For Animation ............................................................ 11 Windows | Arrange Windows | Tile ............................................................................ 12

Rules for Tiling Windows ........................................................................................ 12 Windows | Arrange Windows | Tile Vertically ............................................................. 12 Windows | Arrange Windows | Tile Horizontally ......................................................... 12 Windows | Arrange Windows | Cascade .................................................................... 12 Windows | Arrange Icons ........................................................................................... 12 Windows | Minimize All .............................................................................................. 12 Windows | Restore All ................................................................................................ 12 Windows | Open All ................................................................................................... 13 Windows | Close All ................................................................................................... 13 Windows | Open Windows ......................................................................................... 13

File | New Menu ............................................................................................................ 13 File | New | Structure ................................................................................................. 13 File | New | Data Block............................................................................................... 13

Time Axis ............................................................................................................... 14 Frequency Axis (FFT of the Sampling Window of Time Domain Traces) ............... 14 Sinusoidal Tab ....................................................................................................... 15 Random Tab .......................................................................................................... 15 Chirp Tab ............................................................................................................... 15 Impact Tab ............................................................................................................. 15

File | New | Shape Table............................................................................................ 15

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Manual Shape Data Entry .......................................................................................... 16 File | New | Acquisition............................................................................................... 16 File | New | Report ..................................................................................................... 16 File | New | Program .................................................................................................. 16

File | Import | Structure .................................................................................................. 16 Importing ASCII Text Spreadsheet Files ....................................................................... 17

Creating a File Template ........................................................................................... 17 Importing From a UFF File ............................................................................................ 17

The UFF Format ........................................................................................................ 18 File | Import | Data Block ............................................................................................... 18

Selecting Multiple Files .............................................................................................. 19 Measurement Selection Dialog Box ........................................................................... 19 Translate Files Dialog Box ......................................................................................... 20

File | Import | Shape Table ............................................................................................ 21 File | Import | Project ..................................................................................................... 22 File | Import | Add File ................................................................................................... 22 Display Menu ................................................................................................................ 23

Display | Center ME'scope Window ........................................................................... 23 Display | ME'scope Toolbars ..................................................................................... 23 Display | Status Bar ................................................................................................... 23

Help Menu ..................................................................................................................... 24 Help | Tutorial Help .................................................................................................... 24 Help | Commands Help .............................................................................................. 24 Help | Show Tool Tips ................................................................................................ 24 Help | About ............................................................................................................... 25

License Number ..................................................................................................... 25 License Type .......................................................................................................... 26 License Key ........................................................................................................... 26 User Support Expiration ......................................................................................... 26 Version ................................................................................................................... 26 Date Code .............................................................................................................. 26 Options List ............................................................................................................ 26

Structure Window Commands ....................................................................................... 27


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Drawing & Animation States ...................................................................................... 27 Animation Sources ..................................................................................................... 28 Graphics Area & Objects Spreadsheet ...................................................................... 28 Menu Commands ...................................................................................................... 28

Structure Mouse & Keyboard Operations ...................................................................... 28 Right Click Menus ...................................................................................................... 28 Re-Ordering Spreadsheet Columns ........................................................................... 28 Scrolling Spreadsheets .............................................................................................. 28 Spreadsheet Text Size .............................................................................................. 28 Rotation in the 3D View ............................................................................................. 28 Zooming ..................................................................................................................... 29 Panning the Display ................................................................................................... 29 Toggle Object Selection ............................................................................................. 29 Select a Range of Objects ......................................................................................... 29 Object Selection Box ................................................................................................. 29 Shape Values during Animation ................................................................................ 29 Delete Key ................................................................................................................. 29 F2, F3 & F4 Keys ....................................................................................................... 29 During Dwell Animation ............................................................................................. 29 Cut, Copy & Paste Text ............................................................................................. 30

Object Spreadsheets ..................................................................................................... 30 Scroll Bars ................................................................................................................. 30 Select, Hide, Label, Color & Bold Columns ............................................................... 30

Select Object button ............................................................................................... 30 Visible button.......................................................................................................... 30 Label ...................................................................................................................... 30 Color ...................................................................................................................... 30 Bold button ............................................................................................................. 31

Showing & Hiding Spreadsheet Columns .................................................................. 31 Reset Spreadsheet Column Widths ........................................................................... 31

Editing Spreadsheet Properties by Column ................................................................... 31 Zoom & Pan .................................................................................................................. 31 Rotation in the 3D View ................................................................................................. 31

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File | Save Structure ...................................................................................................... 31 File | Save Structure As... .............................................................................................. 32 File | Save In Library ..................................................................................................... 32

SubStructure Browser ................................................................................................ 32 Saving a Single SubStructure .................................................................................... 32

File | Save Graphics in a File......................................................................................... 32 File | Export Structure .................................................................................................... 32

Exporting a UFF File .................................................................................................. 32 Exporting a Structure & Shape Table into the Same UFF File ................................... 33 Exporting Shapes in Global Coordinates ................................................................... 33

Importing a Structure Model in Text Format .................................................................. 33 1. Create a Text File Template .................................................................................. 33 2. Add Your Data to the Text File Template ............................................................... 33 3. Import the Text (.TXT) File ..................................................................................... 34

File | Copy to Clipboard Menu ....................................................................................... 34 Copy Structure Graphics ........................................................................................... 34 Copy Objects Spreadsheet ........................................................................................ 34

File | Print Menu ............................................................................................................ 34 File | Print | Graphics ................................................................................................. 34 File | Print | Spreadsheet ........................................................................................... 34

File | Clone Structure and Source ................................................................................. 35 File | Structure Options .................................................................................................. 35

Display Tab ................................................................................................................ 36 Colors ..................................................................................................................... 36 Vertical Axis ........................................................................................................... 36 Background Image ................................................................................................. 36 Disable Auto Scaling .............................................................................................. 36 Point Size ............................................................................................................... 36

Units Tab ................................................................................................................... 36 Labels Tab ................................................................................................................. 37

Axes Lines ............................................................................................................. 37 XYZ Axes ............................................................................................................... 37 Legend ................................................................................................................... 37


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Animation Source ................................................................................................... 37 Settings .................................................................................................................. 37 User ....................................................................................................................... 37 Object Labels ......................................................................................................... 37

Show/Hide Tab .......................................................................................................... 37 Lights Tab .................................................................................................................. 37

Controls .................................................................................................................. 38 Screen Area ........................................................................................................... 38

Animation Tab ........................................................................................................... 38 Animate Using ........................................................................................................ 38 Comparison Animation Source Position ................................................................. 38

Movies Tab ................................................................................................................ 39 Movie Quality ......................................................................................................... 39 Frames per Second ................................................................................................ 39

File | Close Structure ..................................................................................................... 39 Opening a Window .................................................................................................... 39

Edit | Object Type List .................................................................................................. 39 Current Object Type .................................................................................................. 39

Edit | Add Objects .......................................................................................................... 39 Point Objects Spreadsheet ............................................................................................ 40

Label Column ............................................................................................................ 40 Point Coordinates Columns ....................................................................................... 40 Typing in Point Coordinates ....................................................................................... 41 Pasting Coordinates from the Clipboard .................................................................... 41 Center Point ............................................................................................................... 41 Display Column.......................................................................................................... 41 Area & Normal Vector Columns ................................................................................. 41 Deformation Column .................................................................................................. 42

Deformation ........................................................................................................... 42 Arrows .................................................................................................................... 42 Both ........................................................................................................................ 42 None ...................................................................................................................... 42

Icon Column .............................................................................................................. 42

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Rotating Point Icons ................................................................................................... 42 Re-sizing Point Icons ................................................................................................. 42

Adding Points to a Model .............................................................................................. 42 Adding Points Graphically .......................................................................................... 42 Adding Points to the Points Spreadsheet .................................................................. 43

Editing Point Coordinates .............................................................................................. 43 Editing Spreadsheet Coordinates .............................................................................. 43

Distance Between Two Points ....................................................................................... 43 Line Objects Spreadsheet ............................................................................................. 44 Adding Lines to a Model ................................................................................................ 45 Surface Objects Spreadsheet ....................................................................................... 45

Surface Triangles Spreadsheet ................................................................................. 45 Surface Quads ........................................................................................................... 46

Adding Surfaces to a Model .......................................................................................... 47 SubStructure Objects Spreadsheet ............................................................................... 47

Color Column ............................................................................................................. 48 Transparent button .................................................................................................... 48 Hide Texture button ................................................................................................... 48 Deformation Column .................................................................................................. 48

Deformation ........................................................................................................... 48 Arrows .................................................................................................................... 49 Both ........................................................................................................................ 49 None ...................................................................................................................... 49

Contours Data Type Column ..................................................................................... 49 Vector ..................................................................................................................... 49 Scalar ..................................................................................................................... 49 Shaft Rotation ........................................................................................................ 49 FEA Rotation .......................................................................................................... 49 None ...................................................................................................................... 49

Creating a SubStructure ................................................................................................ 49 Rotating SubStructures ................................................................................................. 49

Creating a Rotating SubStructure .............................................................................. 50 Testing the Rotation ................................................................................................... 50


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Edit | Undo, Redo .......................................................................................................... 50 Edit | Undo ................................................................................................................. 50 Edit | Redo ................................................................................................................. 50

Selecting Objects .......................................................................................................... 50 Using the Object Selection Box ................................................................................. 51 Using the Shift, Ctrl, & Alt Keys with the Selection Box ............................................. 51 Selecting All Objects .................................................................................................. 51 Un-selecting All Objects ............................................................................................. 51 Toggle Object Selection ............................................................................................. 51 Selecting a Range of Objects in the Objects Spreadsheet ........................................ 51

Edit | Select Objects Menu ............................................................................................ 52 Select All .................................................................................................................... 52 Invert Selection .......................................................................................................... 52 Select None ............................................................................................................... 52 Select Labeled Points ................................................................................................ 52 Selection Box ............................................................................................................. 52 Click Select ................................................................................................................ 52

Edit | Cut Objects to File ................................................................................................ 52 Edit | Copy Objects to File ............................................................................................. 53

Copying Rules ........................................................................................................... 53 Edit | Paste Objects from File ........................................................................................ 53

Pasting Rules ............................................................................................................ 53 Edit | Delete Objects ...................................................................................................... 53

Deleting Rules ........................................................................................................... 53 Display | Center Structure Window ................................................................................ 53 Display | Objects Spreadsheet ...................................................................................... 54 Display | Structure Toolbars .......................................................................................... 54 Display Objects | Points Menu....................................................................................... 54

Show Points ............................................................................................................... 54 Point Labels ............................................................................................................... 54 Acoustic Normals ....................................................................................................... 54 Point Icons ................................................................................................................. 54

Display Objects | Lines Menu ........................................................................................ 54

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Show Lines ................................................................................................................ 54 Line Labels ................................................................................................................ 54

Display Objects | Surfaces Menu .................................................................................. 55 Filled .......................................................................................................................... 55 Outlined ..................................................................................................................... 55 Texture ...................................................................................................................... 55 Transparent ............................................................................................................... 55 Surface Labels ........................................................................................................... 55 Lights ......................................................................................................................... 55 Surface Normals ........................................................................................................ 55 Reverse Normals ....................................................................................................... 55

Display Objects | FEA Objects Menu ............................................................................ 55 Show Objects ............................................................................................................ 56 Object Labels ............................................................................................................. 56

Display | View Menu ...................................................................................................... 56 Active View ................................................................................................................ 56 Quad View Versus Single View ................................................................................. 56 Flip View .................................................................................................................... 56

Display | Zoom, mooZ ................................................................................................... 57 Display | Zoom ........................................................................................................... 57 Using the Mouse Wheel ............................................................................................. 57 Display | mooZ ........................................................................................................... 57

Display | Pan ................................................................................................................. 57 Display | Re-Center All Views ....................................................................................... 58 Display | View Control ................................................................................................... 58

Arrows (3D View only) ............................................................................................ 59 Circle (3D View only) .............................................................................................. 59 Middle Ball ............................................................................................................. 59 Vertical scroll bar .................................................................................................... 59 Horizontal scroll bar ............................................................................................... 59 Star ........................................................................................................................ 59

Display | Auto Rotate 3D View Menu ............................................................................ 59 Rotate CCW .............................................................................................................. 59


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Stop ........................................................................................................................... 60 Rotate CW ................................................................................................................. 60

Draw Menu .................................................................................................................... 60 Draw or Animate | Draw Structure ................................................................................. 60 Draw or Animate | Animate Shapes .............................................................................. 60

Requirements for Animation ...................................................................................... 60 Animation from a Data Block or Acquisition Window ................................................. 60 Animation from a Shape Table .................................................................................. 60 Which Shape Data is Displayed? .............................................................................. 61 Changing the Animation Source ................................................................................ 61 Selected M#s ............................................................................................................. 61

Draw or Animate | Compare Shapes ............................................................................. 61 Arranging Windows During Animation ....................................................................... 62

Draw | Animation Equations | Equation Editor ............................................................... 62 Measurement Axes Tab ............................................................................................. 63

Rotating the Measurement Axes ............................................................................ 64 Rotational Increment .............................................................................................. 64 Reset button ........................................................................................................... 65

Animation Equations Tab ........................................................................................... 65 Translation Equations ............................................................................................ 65 Scalar Equations .................................................................................................... 65 Machine Rotations ................................................................................................. 65 FEA Rotations ........................................................................................................ 65 Measured Equation ................................................................................................ 65 Interpolated Equation ............................................................................................. 66 Fixed DOF .............................................................................................................. 66

Draw | Animation Equations Menu ................................................................................ 66 Create Measured (Assign M#s) ................................................................................. 66 Create Interpolated .................................................................................................... 66 Interpolated to Measured ........................................................................................... 67 Fix DOFs ................................................................................................................... 68 Fixed to Interpolated .................................................................................................. 69 Delete Equations ....................................................................................................... 69

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Examining the Animation Equations .......................................................................... 70 Show Equations ......................................................................................................... 71

Measured Equations .............................................................................................. 71 Interpolated Equations ........................................................................................... 71 Fixed DOFs ............................................................................................................ 71

Select M#s ................................................................................................................. 72 Draw | Drawing Assistant .............................................................................................. 72

SubStructure Tab....................................................................................................... 73 Editable SubStructures .............................................................................................. 73 Dimensions Tab ......................................................................................................... 73 Position Tab ............................................................................................................... 73 Extrude Tab ............................................................................................................... 74 Revolve Tab .............................................................................................................. 74

Draw | Points Menu ....................................................................................................... 74 Points | Number Points .............................................................................................. 74 Points | Sort Points by Label ...................................................................................... 75 Points | Add Point To Line ......................................................................................... 75 Points | Add Point To Surface .................................................................................... 75 Points | Remove Duplicate Points .............................................................................. 76 Points | Create Center Point ...................................................................................... 76

Draw | SubStructures Menu .......................................................................................... 76 SubStructures | Add Objects to SubStructure ............................................................ 76 SubStructures | Remove Objects from SubStructure ................................................. 77 SubStructures | Sort SubStructures by Label ............................................................ 78

Draw | Resize Objects ................................................................................................... 78 F2, F3, & F4 keys ...................................................................................................... 78 Re-sizing in the 3D View ............................................................................................ 78 Changing the Shape .................................................................................................. 79 Re-sizing Point Icons ................................................................................................. 79

Draw | Drag Objects ...................................................................................................... 80 F2, F3 & F4 keys ....................................................................................................... 80

Draw | Rotate Objects ................................................................................................... 80 Rotating Point Icons ................................................................................................... 80


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Draw | Mesh Objects Menu ........................................................................................... 80 Creation of Animation Equations ............................................................................... 81 Mesh All Edges .......................................................................................................... 81 Mesh Longest Edges ................................................................................................. 81 Meshing Substructures .............................................................................................. 82

Animate Menu ............................................................................................................... 83 Draw or Animate | Draw Structure ................................................................................. 83 Draw or Animate | Animate Shapes .............................................................................. 83

Requirements for Animation ...................................................................................... 83 Animation from a Data Block or Acquisition Window ................................................. 83 Animation from a Shape Table .................................................................................. 83 Which Shape Data is Displayed? .............................................................................. 84 Changing the Animation Source ................................................................................ 84 Selected M#s ............................................................................................................. 84

Draw or Animate | Compare Shapes ............................................................................. 84 Arranging Windows During Animation ....................................................................... 85

Animate | Show Animation Source ................................................................................ 85 Animate | Show Comparison Source ............................................................................. 86 Animating From Multiple Source Files ........................................................................... 87 Displaying Shape Values .............................................................................................. 87 Animate | Method Menu ................................................................................................ 87

Sweep ........................................................................................................................ 88 Data Block or Acquisition ....................................................................................... 88 Shape Table ........................................................................................................... 88

Sine Dwell .................................................................................................................. 88 Data Block or Acquisition ....................................................................................... 88 Shape Table ........................................................................................................... 88

Stationary Dwell ......................................................................................................... 88 Data Block or Acquisition ....................................................................................... 88 Shape Table ........................................................................................................... 88

Animate | With Interpolation .......................................................................................... 88 Animate | Speed Menu .................................................................................................. 89

Data Block Sweep Speed .......................................................................................... 89

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Sine Dwell Speeds ..................................................................................................... 90 Speed Settings .......................................................................................................... 90

Animate | Amplitude Menu ............................................................................................ 90 Increase Amplitude .................................................................................................... 90 Decrease Amplitude .................................................................................................. 90 Amplitude ................................................................................................................... 90 Settings box ............................................................................................................... 91

Animate | Step Menu ..................................................................................................... 91 Stop/Continue ............................................................................................................ 91 Next Frame ................................................................................................................ 91 Previous Frame ......................................................................................................... 91

Animate | Deformation Menu ......................................................................................... 91 Deformed ................................................................................................................... 91 Undeformed ............................................................................................................... 91 X direction .................................................................................................................. 91 Y direction .................................................................................................................. 91 Z direction .................................................................................................................. 91 Arrows ....................................................................................................................... 91 Persistence ................................................................................................................ 92 Orbits ......................................................................................................................... 93

Animate Using Menu ..................................................................................................... 93 Groups ....................................................................................................................... 93 Entering Group Names in a Data Block ..................................................................... 93

Animate Compare Shapes Menu .................................................................................. 93 Flip Sign ..................................................................................................................... 93 Flipping the Sign In a Complexity Plot ....................................................................... 93 Synchronize Frequency ............................................................................................. 93 Shape Difference ....................................................................................................... 94

Animate | Contours Menu .............................................................................................. 94 Node Lines ................................................................................................................ 94 Normal Versus Complex Shapes ............................................................................... 94

Normal Shape ........................................................................................................ 94 Complex Shape...................................................................................................... 94


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Contour Colors .......................................................................................................... 95 Point Icons ................................................................................................................. 95 Color Key ................................................................................................................... 95 Surface Normal Contours .......................................................................................... 96

Animate | Shapes Menu ................................................................................................ 96 Save Shape ............................................................................................................... 96 Normalized ................................................................................................................ 96 Auto Scaling .............................................................................................................. 96 Relative Scaling ......................................................................................................... 97 Fixed Scaling ............................................................................................................. 97 Fixed Scale Example ................................................................................................. 97 Relative To Left Shape .............................................................................................. 97

Movie Menu ................................................................................................................... 97 Make Structure Movie ................................................................................................ 98

Use Window Width and Height............................................................................... 98 Stop After Full Cycles of Animation ........................................................................ 98 Restart Dwell Cycle ................................................................................................ 98

Make Work Area Movie ............................................................................................. 99 Data Block Window Commands .................................................................................. 101

Graphics Area & Traces Spreadsheet ..................................................................... 101 Menu Commands .................................................................................................... 102

Data Block Mouse & Keyboard Operations ................................................................. 102 Right Click Menus .................................................................................................... 102 -Ordering Spreadsheet Columns ............................................................................. 102 Scrolling Spreadsheets ............................................................................................ 102 Spreadsheet Text Size ............................................................................................ 102 Scrolling the Traces Display .................................................................................... 102 Zooming ................................................................................................................... 102 Panning a Zoomed Display ...................................................................................... 102 Moving the Cursors .................................................................................................. 103

Line Cursor .......................................................................................................... 103 Peak or Band Cursor ............................................................................................ 103 Moving an Edge of the Peak or Band Cursor ....................................................... 103

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Selecting a Range of Traces ................................................................................... 103 Toggle Trace Selection ............................................................................................ 103 Trace Values ........................................................................................................... 103 Cut, Copy & Paste Text ........................................................................................... 103

Graphics Scroll Bars .................................................................................................... 103 Vertical Scroll Bar .................................................................................................... 103 Horizontal Scroll Bar ................................................................................................ 103

Traces Spreadsheet .................................................................................................... 104 Showing & Hiding Spreadsheet Columns ................................................................ 104 Reset Spreadsheet Column Widths ......................................................................... 104 Unique Measurement Numbers (M#s) ..................................................................... 105 Selecting Traces ...................................................................................................... 105

Selecting Traces in the Traces spreadsheet ........................................................ 105 Selecting Traces in the Graphics Area ................................................................. 105

Changing Trace Properties ...................................................................................... 105 Changing the Property of All (or selected) Traces:............................................... 105

Visible Column ......................................................................................................... 105 Measurement Type Column .................................................................................... 105 DOFs Column .......................................................................................................... 105

Single Channel Measurement .............................................................................. 106 Cross Channel Measurement .............................................................................. 106 Using the DOF Generator .................................................................................... 106

Units Column ........................................................................................................... 106 Color Column ........................................................................................................... 106 Sound Column ......................................................................................................... 106 Label Column .......................................................................................................... 107 Data Type Column ................................................................................................... 107 Scale Method, Minimum Scale, & Maximum Scale Columns .................................. 107

Auto Scale ............................................................................................................ 107 Relative Scale ...................................................................................................... 107 Fixed Scale .......................................................................................................... 107 Format | Vertical Axis ........................................................................................... 107

Date/Time Column ................................................................................................... 107


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Group Column ......................................................................................................... 107 Using the DOF Generator ........................................................................................... 107

Single Channel DOFs .............................................................................................. 109 Cross Channel DOFs ............................................................................................... 109 Add To DOFs ........................................................................................................... 109 Roving Impact Test .................................................................................................. 109 Swap DOFs ............................................................................................................. 109 Delete DOFs ............................................................................................................ 109

File | Save Data Block ................................................................................................. 110 File | Save Data Block As... ......................................................................................... 110 File | Save Graphics in a File....................................................................................... 110 File | Export Data Block ............................................................................................... 110

UFF File Export........................................................................................................ 110 Importing a Data Block Spreadsheet File .................................................................... 111

Column Format ........................................................................................................ 111 Header Format ........................................................................................................ 111 Creating a (.TXT) File Template .............................................................................. 112 Adding Your Data to the Template........................................................................... 112 Importing the (.TXT) File .......................................................................................... 113

File | Copy to Clipboard Menu ..................................................................................... 113 Copy Trace Graphics ............................................................................................... 113 Copy Traces Spreadsheet ....................................................................................... 113 Copy Trace Data...................................................................................................... 113

Editing Trace Data....................................................................................................... 113 Exporting the Trace Data ......................................................................................... 113 Importing the Edited Trace Data .............................................................................. 113

File | Print Menu .......................................................................................................... 114 File | Print | Graphics ............................................................................................ 114 File | Print | Traces Spreadsheet .......................................................................... 114

File | Data Block Properties ......................................................................................... 114 File | Data Block Options ............................................................................................. 115

Display Tab .............................................................................................................. 115 Contour Colors Tab ................................................................................................. 115

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Contours for Each Animation Group ........................................................................ 115 High & Low Contour Limits ...................................................................................... 116 Contours During Animation ...................................................................................... 116 Labels & Grids Tab .................................................................................................. 116 Show/Hide Tab ........................................................................................................ 116 Animation Tab ......................................................................................................... 116

File | Close Data Block ................................................................................................ 116 Opening a Window .................................................................................................. 116

Edit | Undo, Redo ........................................................................................................ 117 Edit | Undo ............................................................................................................... 117 Edit | Redo ............................................................................................................... 117

Edit | Select Traces Menu ........................................................................................... 117 Select By... .............................................................................................................. 117

Start and Skip M#s ............................................................................................... 118 By Units ................................................................................................................ 118 By DOF ................................................................................................................ 118 By Roving DOF .................................................................................................... 118 By Reference DOF ............................................................................................... 118 By Point ................................................................................................................ 118 By Direction .......................................................................................................... 119 By Rectangular Matrix DOFs ............................................................................... 119 By Measurement Type ......................................................................................... 119 By Measurement Set ............................................................................................ 119 By Data Type ....................................................................................................... 119 By Label ............................................................................................................... 119 By Input Output .................................................................................................... 119 By Acoustic Source .............................................................................................. 119 By SubShape ....................................................................................................... 119 By Z Axis .............................................................................................................. 119

Select All .................................................................................................................. 119 Invert Selection ........................................................................................................ 120 Select None ............................................................................................................. 120

Edit | Sort Traces Menu ............................................................................................... 120


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Sort By... .................................................................................................................. 120 By Units ................................................................................................................ 120 By DOF ................................................................................................................ 121 By Roving DOF .................................................................................................... 121 By Reference DOF ............................................................................................... 121 By Point ................................................................................................................ 121 By Direction .......................................................................................................... 121 By Rectangular Matrix DOFs ............................................................................... 121 By Measurement Type ......................................................................................... 121 By Measurement Set ............................................................................................ 121 By Data Type ....................................................................................................... 121 By Label ............................................................................................................... 121 By Input Output .................................................................................................... 122 By Acoustic Source .............................................................................................. 122 By SubShape ....................................................................................................... 122 By Z Axis .............................................................................................................. 122

Manual Sort ............................................................................................................. 122 Display | Center Data Block Window ........................................................................... 122 Display | Traces Spreadsheet ..................................................................................... 123 Display | Data Block Toolbars ..................................................................................... 123 Display | Trace Label on Graph ................................................................................... 123 Display | Real .............................................................................................................. 123 Display | Imaginary ...................................................................................................... 124 Display | Magnitude ..................................................................................................... 124

Linear, Log or dB ..................................................................................................... 125 dB Units for Linear versus Power Quantities ........................................................... 126

Display | Phase ........................................................................................................... 126 Display | CoQuad (Real & Imaginary) ......................................................................... 126 Display | Bode (Magnitude & Phase) ........................................................................... 127 Display | Nyquist (Real versus Imaginary) ................................................................... 127 Display | Cursor Menu ................................................................................................. 128

Display | Cursor | Line Cursor .................................................................................. 128 Display | Cursor | Band Cursor ................................................................................ 128

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Display | Cursor | Peak Cursor ................................................................................ 128 Display | Cursor | Cursor Values .............................................................................. 128 Display | Cursor | Orders ......................................................................................... 128 Display | Cursor | Peak Finder ................................................................................. 129 Moving the Cursors .................................................................................................. 129

Moving the Band or Peak cursor .......................................................................... 129 Moving one edge of the Band or Peak cursor ...................................................... 129 Using the Peak Finder .......................................................................................... 129

Animating the Shape at the Cursor Position ............................................................ 129 Saving Shapes ........................................................................................................ 130

Display | Zoom, mooZ ................................................................................................. 130 Zoom Operation ....................................................................................................... 130 Using the Mouse Wheel ........................................................................................... 131 Horizontal & Vertical Zoom ...................................................................................... 131 Panning After a Zoom .............................................................................................. 131

Display | Maximize ...................................................................................................... 131 Display | Fill Under Graph Menu ................................................................................. 132

Trace Color .............................................................................................................. 132 Fill Colors ................................................................................................................. 132 Contour Colors ........................................................................................................ 133

Animate | Create Animation Equations (Assign M#s) .................................................. 133 Connected Structure Window .................................................................................. 134 Match Structure and Source DOFs .......................................................................... 134 Measured Equation Types ....................................................................................... 134

Translation Equation ............................................................................................ 134 FEA Rotation Equation ......................................................................................... 134 Scalar Equation .................................................................................................... 134 Machine Rotation Equation .................................................................................. 134

Measurement Axes .................................................................................................. 134 Multiple Reference Measurements .......................................................................... 135 Graphical Assignment of M#s .................................................................................. 135 Using Click Select .................................................................................................... 136 Trace DOF Creation ................................................................................................ 136


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Animate | Animate Shapes .......................................................................................... 136 Sweep Animation ..................................................................................................... 137 Dwell Animation ....................................................................................................... 137 Stationary Dwell ....................................................................................................... 137 Which Data is Animated? ........................................................................................ 137 Selected M#s ........................................................................................................... 137 Multiple Reference DOFs ........................................................................................ 137 Terminating Animation ............................................................................................. 138

Animate | Renumber M#s ............................................................................................ 138 Animate | Animate Using | Groups .............................................................................. 138

Entering Group Names in a Data Block ................................................................... 138 Format | Rows Columns .............................................................................................. 139 Format | Strip Chart ..................................................................................................... 139 Format | Overlaid ......................................................................................................... 140 Format | Overlay By DOF ............................................................................................ 141 Format | Cascade ........................................................................................................ 141 Format | Contour Map ................................................................................................. 142 Format | Y-Axis ............................................................................................................ 143

Scaling ..................................................................................................................... 143 Scaling from the Traces Spreadsheet ...................................................................... 143 dB Units for Linear versus Power Quantities ........................................................... 144 Labels & Grids ......................................................................................................... 144

Format | X-Axis ............................................................................................................ 144 Display Limits .......................................................................................................... 144 X-Axis & Axis Units .................................................................................................. 144 Labels & Grids ......................................................................................................... 145

Tools | Save Shape ..................................................................................................... 145 Add To or Replace Shapes ...................................................................................... 145 Matching DOFs ........................................................................................................ 145 Replacing a Shape .................................................................................................. 146 Replacing DOFs of a Shape .................................................................................... 146

Shape Table Window Commands ............................................................................... 147 Shapes & DOFs Spreadsheets ................................................................................ 147

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Menu Commands .................................................................................................... 147 Shape Table Mouse & Keyboard Operations .............................................................. 148

Right Click Menus .................................................................................................... 148 Re-Ordering Spreadsheet Columns ......................................................................... 148 Scrolling Spreadsheets ............................................................................................ 148 Spreadsheet Text Size ............................................................................................ 148 Cut, Copy & Paste Text ........................................................................................... 148

Shapes Spreadsheet ................................................................................................... 148 Showing & Hiding Spreadsheet Columns ................................................................ 149 Reset Spreadsheet Column Widths ......................................................................... 149

DOFs Spreadsheet...................................................................................................... 149 Showing & Hiding Spreadsheet Columns ................................................................ 150 Reset Spreadsheet Column Widths ......................................................................... 151 Unique M#s ............................................................................................................. 151 Group Column ......................................................................................................... 151

File | Save Shape Table .............................................................................................. 151 File | Save Shape Table As... ...................................................................................... 151 Importing Shapes Using Spreadsheet Format ............................................................ 151

Creating a .TXT File Template ................................................................................. 151 Add Your Data To The .TXT File ............................................................................. 151 Import The .TXT File ................................................................................................ 152

File | Export Shape Table ........................................................................................... 152 UFF File Export........................................................................................................ 152

File | Copy to Clipboard Menu ..................................................................................... 152 Copy Shapes Spreadsheet ...................................................................................... 153 Copy DOFs Spreadsheet ......................................................................................... 153

File | Print Menu .......................................................................................................... 153 Print Shapes Spreadsheet ....................................................................................... 153 Print DOFs Spreadsheet .......................................................................................... 153

File | Shape Table Properties ...................................................................................... 153 File | Shape Table Options .......................................................................................... 153

Display Tab .............................................................................................................. 154 Animation Tab ......................................................................................................... 154


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Show/Hide Tab ........................................................................................................ 154 Contour Colors Tab ................................................................................................. 154 Contours for Each SubShape .................................................................................. 155 High & Low Contour Limits ...................................................................................... 155

File | Close Shape Table ............................................................................................. 155 Opening a Window .................................................................................................. 155

Edit | Undo, Redo ........................................................................................................ 155 Edit | Undo ............................................................................................................... 155 Edit | Redo ............................................................................................................... 155

Edit | Select Shapes Menu .......................................................................................... 156 Select All .................................................................................................................. 156 Invert Selection ........................................................................................................ 156 Select None ............................................................................................................. 156

Edit | Sort Shapes Menu ............................................................................................. 156 By Ascending Frequency/time ................................................................................. 156 By Descending Frequency/Time .............................................................................. 156

Edit | Select DOFs Menu ............................................................................................. 156 Select By ................................................................................................................. 156

Start and Skip M#s ............................................................................................... 157 By Units ................................................................................................................ 157 By DOF ................................................................................................................ 157 By Roving DOF .................................................................................................... 157 By Reference DOF ............................................................................................... 157 By Point ................................................................................................................ 157 By Direction .......................................................................................................... 157 By Rectangular Matrix DOFs ............................................................................... 158 By Measurement Type ......................................................................................... 158 By Measurement Set ............................................................................................ 158 By Data Type ....................................................................................................... 158 By Label ............................................................................................................... 158 By Input Output .................................................................................................... 158 By Acoustic Source .............................................................................................. 158 By SubShape ....................................................................................................... 158

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Select All .................................................................................................................. 158 Invert Selection ........................................................................................................ 158 Select None ............................................................................................................. 158

Edit | Sort DOFs .......................................................................................................... 158 By Units ................................................................................................................ 159 By DOF ................................................................................................................ 159 By Roving DOF .................................................................................................... 159 By Reference DOF ............................................................................................... 159 By Point ................................................................................................................ 160 By Direction .......................................................................................................... 160 By Rectangular Matrix DOFs ............................................................................... 160 By Measurement Type ......................................................................................... 160 By Measurement Set ............................................................................................ 160 By Data Type ....................................................................................................... 160 By Label ............................................................................................................... 160 By Input Output .................................................................................................... 160 By Acoustic Source .............................................................................................. 160 By SubShape ....................................................................................................... 160

Display Menu .............................................................................................................. 160 Center Window ........................................................................................................ 160 Toolbars ................................................................................................................... 161 Split .......................................................................................................................... 161

Display | Shape DOFs Menu ....................................................................................... 161 Magnitude / Phase ................................................................................................... 161 Magnitude (dB) / Phase ........................................................................................... 161 Magnitude ................................................................................................................ 162 Magnitude dB .......................................................................................................... 162 Phase ...................................................................................................................... 162 Real / Imaginary....................................................................................................... 162 Real ......................................................................................................................... 162 Imaginary ................................................................................................................. 162

Animate | Create Animation Equations (Assign M#s) .................................................. 162 Animate | Animate Shapes .......................................................................................... 162


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Sweep Animation ..................................................................................................... 162 Dwell Animation ....................................................................................................... 162 Stationary Dwell ....................................................................................................... 163 Which Data is Displayed? ........................................................................................ 163 Selected M#'s .......................................................................................................... 163 Terminating Animation ............................................................................................. 163

Animate | Renumber M#s ............................................................................................ 163 Animate | Animate Using | Groups .............................................................................. 163

Entering Group Names ............................................................................................ 164 Report Window Commands ........................................................................................ 165 Report Window ............................................................................................................ 165

Menu Commands .................................................................................................... 165 File Menu .................................................................................................................... 165

Save Report ............................................................................................................. 165 Save Report As........................................................................................................ 165 Import Report ........................................................................................................... 166 Export Report .......................................................................................................... 166 Print ......................................................................................................................... 166 Page Setup .............................................................................................................. 166 Print Preview ........................................................................................................... 166 Close Report ............................................................................................................ 167 Opening a Window .................................................................................................. 167

Edit Menu .................................................................................................................... 167 Undo ........................................................................................................................ 167 Select All .................................................................................................................. 167 Select None ............................................................................................................. 167 Cut ........................................................................................................................... 167 Copy to Clipboard .................................................................................................... 168 Paste ....................................................................................................................... 168 Delete ...................................................................................................................... 168 Find Next ................................................................................................................. 168 Replace ................................................................................................................... 168

Display Menu .............................................................................................................. 168

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Center Report Window ............................................................................................ 168 Page Layout and Normal ......................................................................................... 169 Zoom menu ............................................................................................................. 170 Form Layout menu ................................................................................................... 171 Controls menu ......................................................................................................... 171

Insert Menu ................................................................................................................. 171 Insert Page Break .................................................................................................... 171 Insert File ................................................................................................................. 171 Insert Picture from File ............................................................................................. 171 Insert Wrapping Page Break .................................................................................... 171

Format Menu ............................................................................................................... 172 Font ......................................................................................................................... 172 Paragraph ................................................................................................................ 172 Bullets and Numbering Properties ........................................................................... 173 Styles ....................................................................................................................... 174 Tabs ......................................................................................................................... 175 Image ....................................................................................................................... 175 Language ................................................................................................................. 176

Table Menu ................................................................................................................. 177 Insert Table .............................................................................................................. 177

Glossary ...................................................................................................................... 179 Index ........................................................................................................................... 193

1

ME'scope Window Commands

ME'scope Window.

This chapter contains descriptions of all of the commands in the ME'scope window. The ME'scope window is the container window for ME'scopeVES.

• When the ME'scope window is open, ME'scope is running. • All other ME'scope windows are contained inside the Work Area of ME'scope window.

Project Fly Out Panel

• Hover the mouse pointer over the Project tab to open the Project fly out panel.

The Project fly out panel contains two panes, separated by a moveable red splitter bar. • The pane on the (top or left) lists the files in the currently open Project (VTprj) file. • The pane on the (bottom or right) lists all of the Project (VTprj) files in the current folder on

disk.

Right Click Menu

• Right click on one of the Project file names in the Project fly out panel to display a drop down menu;

• Execute Open to open the Project (same as clicking on the Project name). • Execute Name & Description to rename the Project and add a description. • Execute Delete to mark the Project file for deletion from the disk.


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NOTE: A Project file that is marked for deletion can be un-deleted by right clicking on it.

• Execute Open Folder to display the disk folder where the Project (VTprj) file is located.

Menu Commands

Menu command descriptions are ordered by command menu (from left to right), and then by the commands in each menu (from top to bottom).

• Each command is executed by choosing it from a command menu, or by clicking on its Tool if it is on a Toolbar.

• See the Command Toolbars section in the Tutorial - Introduction to ME'scope chapter for details on customizing the Toolbars in this window.

Opening a Project

There are several ways to open a previously saved Project file, 1. Execute Project | Open in the ME'scope window. 2. On the Project Fly Out panel,

• Double click on the Project name in the (right or lower) pane. • Right click on the Project name in the (right or lower) pane, and select Open from the

drop down menu. 3. From a Project Folder Tab,

• See the next section for details. 4. From the Start Page,

• Execute File | Project | Close to display the Start Page. • Select the Project from the list of Recent Projects, • Or click on Open an existing Project.

Start Page

All work in ME'scope is done in the currently open Project.

NOTE: Only one Project can be open at a time in ME'scope.


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A Project file can contain one or more of the following data files: • Structure (STR) file • Data Block (BLK) file • Shape Table (SHP) file • Acquisition (ACQ) file • Report (RTF) file • Program (PGM) file • Added Files (WMV, PDF, JPG, or files that run in other windows applications).

NOTE: All data files in a Project are contained within the Project file on disk, except Added files. Added files are stored separately on disk, and are opened from a separate application program.

Opening Data Files

A separate window is used for displaying and manipulating the contents of each data file within the currently open Project.\

NOTE: When a Project data file is opened, a copy of its contents on disk is put into the computer RAM memory and displayed in its own window.

ME'scope with a Structure (STR) and Data Block (BLK) Window Open.

Saving Data Files

When a Project data file is saved, its file contents in RAM memory replace the contents of the file stored in its Project file on disk.


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NOTE: If a Project is closed without saving changes to one of its data files, the contents of that file on disk are not changed.

Project Folder Tabs

In addition to the Project tab, several default Project Folder tabs are added to the ME'scope window when it is installed. Hovering the mouse over a Project Folder Tab will open the fly-out panel containing all of the ME'scope Projects in that folder.

Opening a Project From a Folder Tab

• Hover the mouse pointer over one of the tabs at the top of the ME'scope window to open its fly-out panel.

• Hover the mouse pointer over each Project thumbnail (picture) on the panel to display its name. • Double click on any Project in a fly-out panel to open the Project. • Move the mouse pointer off of a fly-out panel to close it.

ME'scope Window Showing Demos Folder fly-out panel.

Moving a Fly-out Panel

• Hover the mouse pointer over a Folder Tab to open its fly-out panel. • Click on the pin icon in the upper right corner to pin the fly-out panel open, as shown below.

Pinned Folder fly-out panel.


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• Drag the pinned fly-out panel into the middle of the Work Area.

Notice that four arrow icons appear near the top, bottom & sides of the Work Area. • Drag the pinned fly-out panel onto an arrow icon to attach it to the top, bottom or a side of the

Work Area. • Click on the pin icon again in the upper right corner to un-pin the fly-out panel.

Creating a New Folder Tab

Any Folder of Project files on your computer disk can be added as a fly-out panel to the ME'scope window.

• Hover the mouse pointer over the Project tab to open its fly-out panel. • Right click on a Folder in the (right or bottom) pane in the Project fly-out panel. • Select Show Folder as Tab from the menu.

Right Click To Create a New Folder Tab.

Adding a File to the open Project

In the ME'scope window, • Execute one of the File | Import commands in the ME'scope window. • (See the File | Import command sections for details.)

In the Project tab, • Right click on any data file on any Project in the right (or lower) pane and select Add from the

drop down menu. • Or double click on the data file in the right (or lower) pane.

Opening a Data File in ME'scope

Any data file listed on the currently open Project can be opened in several ways; • Double click on the data file in the left (or upper) pane of the Project fly out panel. • Right click on data file in the left (or upper) pane and select Open from the drop down menu.

Adding a File to the Currently Open Project

To add any data file from another Project to the currently open Project; • Double click on the data file in the right (or lower) pane on the Project fly-out panel.


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• Right click on the data file in the right (or lower) pane and execute Add in the drop down menu.

Project | New Project

Creates a new (empty) Project file. • Each new Project file must be named and stored to disk before it can be opened. • When the new Project is created, all of the data files in the currently open Project are removed

from the computer RAM memory.

Project fly out panel Showing a New (Empty) Project.

Project | Open Project

Opens a previously saved Project file from disk. • All files with the file extension (.VTprj) in the current disk folder are listed in the Windows File

Open dialog box. • Double click on the Project (VTprj) file name, or select the file and click on the Open button.


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Project File Open Dialog Box.

Project | Close Project

Closes the currently open Project file and removes its data files from the computer RAM memory.

NOTE: You will be prompted to save all new or modified data files before they are removed from RAM memory.

Project | Save Project

Saves the currently open Project file into a file on the disk.

WARNING: Routinely save your Project to avoid having to recreate any data files should a system error occur.

Project | Save Project As

Saves the currently open Project file into a file on disk with a new name. When this command is executed, the Windows Save File dialog box is opened.

• Enter the desired Project file name into the File name box, and click on the Save button.


8

Project Save As Dialog Box.

Project | Save a Project Copy

Saves a copy of the currently open Project file under a new name into a file on disk.

Project | Open Substructure Library

Opens the ME'scope SubStructure Library. • The SubStructure Library is a Project file (ME'scope Library.VTprj), which is located in the

ME'scope/Application Data folder on disk. • Execute File | Save in Library in a Structure window to add the model in the window to the

ME'scope Library.VTprj file.

Drawing Assistant SubStructure Tab

The contents of the SubStructure Library are displayed on the SubStructure tab when the Drawing Assistant

• (See Draw | Drawing Assistant for details.) tabs are displayed in a Structure window.

• Double click on a SubStructure in the SubStructure browser (on the SubStructure tab) to add it to the drawing in the structure window.

Project | Save ME'scope Graphics

Saves the graphics in the Work Area of the ME'scopeVES window into a disk file. • Graphics can be saved in the JPG, GIF, PNG or BMP file formats.

Project | ME'scope Options


9

Opens the ME'scope Options dialog box.

Project Options Box.

The Project Options box contains several Tabs with options pertaining to the operation of ME'scope.

Display Tab

Language list Changes the display of all of the text in ME'scope to a local language.

NOTE: A Local language (other than English) is an extra cost ME'scope Option.

Menu Style list Changes the style for displaying the command menus & Toolbars. Three choices are available; Multiple menus, Single menu, and Ribbon.

• Choosing Multiple menus places a command menu & Toolbar in each window. • Choosing Single menu places the command menu & Toolbar for the active window at the top of

the ME'scope window. • Choosing Ribbon places the command Ribbon for the active window at the top of the ME'scope

window. • Click on a window to make it active.

Clear User Settings Restores the Toolbars, Spreadsheets, and Windows to default settings.

Show Start Page If checked, the Start Page will be displayed when ME'scope is started.

Show More Prompts If checked, more prompting message boxes are displayed during the execution of some commands.

General Tab


10

User Interface Sounds If checked, sounds will be made when certain commands are executed.

NOTE: If an internal error occurs during the operation of ME'scope, the computer will make an "Uh-Oh" sound. This sound can be eliminated by un-checking User Interface Sounds.

Send Internal Errors to Vibrant Technology If checked, all internal errors that occur during the operation of ME'scope will be sent to a Vibrant Technology Internet site when the operation of ME'scope is terminated.

NOTE: Software bugs that cause internal errors are fixed more quickly by Vibrant Technology when you check this function.

Include Contact Email Address If checked, you will be notified by Email when an internal error that you reported has been fixed.

Make Backup Files If checked, a copy of a Project file will be saving on disk whenever a Project is saved.

Number of Edits Saved The number of edits that will be saved during editing operations.

• When Edit | Undo is executed in a window, a previous copy of the data in that window is restored.

Numbers Tab

Format The format in which numbers will be displayed on graphs, in spreadsheets, etc.

Maximum Number of Digits The number of decimal digits that will be used to display numbers.

Project | Open Project on Startup

Automatically opens an ME'scope Project file when ME'scope is started.

NOTE: If this command is checked, the currently open Project file has already been chosen to Open on Startup.

• If no Project has been selected, the Windows Open File dialog box will open,


11

Open Project Dialog Box.

This command can also be executed from anywhere on the Project fly-out panel; • Place the mouse pointer on a Project file name, right click, and execute "Open Project on

Startup"

Right Click To Select a Project to Open on Startup.

Project | Exit ME'scope

Terminates the operation of ME'scope.

NOTE: If any files in a Project are new or have been modified since they were last saved, you will be prompted to save them before exiting.

Windows Menu

Windows | Arrange Windows | For Animation


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Arranges all open Structure windows and Animation Source windows in the Work Area. • Structure (STR) windows typically occupy the left side of the Work Area. • Data Block (BLK), Shape Table (SHP) and Acquisition (ACQ) windows typically occupy the right

side of the Work Area.

NOTE: The size of the active window is preserved when this command is executed.

Windows | Arrange Windows | Tile

Arranges all open Project windows in the Work Area in a tiled format.

NOTE: The position of the upper left corner of each window relative to all other windows is used to arrange the windows.

Rules for Tiling Windows 1. If the Workspace width is greater than its height, the windows are arranged vertically. 2. If the Workspace width is less than its height, the windows are arranged horizontally. 3. For a large number of windows, several rows will be created to maximize the area of each

window.

Windows | Arrange Windows | Tile Vertically

Arranges all open Project windows vertically in the Work Area.

NOTE: The position of the upper left corner of each window relative to the other windows is used to arrange the windows.

Windows | Arrange Windows | Tile Horizontally

Arranges all open Project windows horizontally in the Work Area.


Windows | Arrange Windows | Cascade

Arranges all open Project windows in the Work Area in a cascading format.


Windows | Arrange Icons

Arranges all minimized Project window Icons on the lower left side of the Work Area.

Windows | Minimize All

Minimizes all open Project windows in the Work Area into Icons on the lower left corner of the Work Area.

Windows | Restore All


13

Restores all open Project windows in the Work Area from Icons.

Windows | Open All

Opens all Project windows in the Work Area.

Windows | Close All

Closes all open Project windows in the Work Area.

Windows | Open Windows

All open Project windows in the Work Area are listed in this menu. • If a window is minimized, selecting it from this list will restore it to its previously opened state. • The currently active Project window is underlined

File | New Menu

.

File | New | Structure

Creates a new Structure file, adds it to the current Project, and opens an (empty) Structure window for the new file.

New (Empty) Structure window.

File | New | Data Block

Creates a new Data Block file

NOTE: A Data Block cannot be empty. It must contain at least one Trace.

and adds it to the current Project.

When this command is executed, the following dialog box is opened allowing you to choose the type of synthesized time waveform Traces to put into the new Data Block.

• Enter the desired Time Axis and Frequency Axis parameters. • Enter parameters into the Sinusoidal, Random, Chirp or Impact tab.


14

• Click on OK to create a new Data Block file and open its window.

Synthesize Time Traces Dialog Box.

Time Axis • Block Size (N): Number of time samples in each Trace Sampling Window• Ending Value (T): Ending time of the horizontal time axis in each

. Sampling Window

• Resolution (delta t): Time increment between samples on the horizontal time axis, in seconds. , in seconds.

• Pre-Trigger Delay (Samples): Adds zero valued samples to the beginning of each Trace Sampling Window .

• Number of Averages: The number of Sampling Windows used for Spectrum averaging. • Samples per Trace: Total number of samples per Trace (Number of Averages) x (Block Size).

Frequency Axis (FFT of the Sampling Window of Time Domain Traces) • Block Size (N/2): Number of frequency samples (or Lines) per Trace. • Ending Value (Fmax): Ending frequency of the Data Block frequency axis, in Hertz. • Resolution (delta f): Frequency increment between Lines, in Hertz. • Sample Rate (Samples/Second): Equal to twice the value of Fmax. • The maximum frequency (Fmax) and the Time Step are related to one another.

• Fmax = 1 / (2 x Time Step), or Sample Rate = 2 x Fmax.


15

Sinusoidal Tab • If this is the active Tab, a new Data Block with sinusoidal Traces will be created. • Number of Frequencies: Number of rows in the sine wave spreadsheet, for entry of sinusoidal

frequencies, (modal) damping, magnitude & phase. • Number of Traces: Number of Traces to be synthesized. • Frequency (Hz): Sinusoidal frequencies. • Damping (%): The percentage of critical damping for each shape. Enter 0 for no damping.

Enter non-zero damping (0<damping<100) to synthesize an Impulse Response Function (IRF). • Magnitude: The sinusoidal magnitude. • Phase (degrees): The sinusoidal phase.

• When (Number of Traces =1), you can enter a magnitude & phase. • When (Number of Traces >1), magnitudes & phases are randomly created for all Traces.

Random Tab • If this is the active Tab, a new Data Block with random signal Traces will be created. • Number of Traces: Number of Traces to be synthesized. • Magnitude: All Traces are synthesized with this magnitude, and a random phase. • Burst Random Width (%)

• Width of the non-zero random signal as a percentage of each Sampling Window. • Used to make random response signals periodic in the Sampling Window.

Chirp Tab • If this is the active Tab, a new Data Block with chirp (swept sine) Traces will be created. • Number of Traces: Number of Traces to be synthesized. • Starting Frequency (Hz): starting frequency of the swept sine signal, in Hertz. • Ending Frequency (Hz): Ending frequency of the swept sine signal, in Hertz. • Magnitude: Sinusoidal magnitude for all Traces. • Burst Chirp Width (%)

• Width of the non-zero chirp signal as a percentage of each Sampling Window. • Used to make chirp response signals periodic in the Sampling Window.

Impact Tab • If this is the active Tab, a new Data Block with one Trace with an impact signal in it is created. • Magnitude: Magnitude of the pulse signal. • Width (samples): Width of the pulse, in samples.

File | New | Shape Table

Creates a new Shape Table file and adds it to the current Project. When this command is executed, the following dialog box will open.

• Enter the size of the Shape Table (Number of Shapes and Number of DOFs per shape) into the dialog box.

• Click on OK to open a new (empty) Shape Table window.


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Manual Shape Data Entry

• Click on a cell to select it, type the entry on the keyboard, and press the Enter key.

File | New | Acquisition

Creates a new Acquisition file and adds it to the current Project. • An Acquisition window is used to acquire multi-channel data directly from third party front end

hardware.

NOTE: An Acquisition window is an extra cost ME'scopeVES Option.

File | New | Report

Creates a new (empty) Report file, adds it to the current Project, and opens an (empty) Report window. • A Report can be used for document a test using both text and graphics.

File | New | Program

Creates a new (empty) Program file, adds it to the current Project, and opens an (empty) Program window.

NOTE: Programming is enabled with the ME'scope VES-7000 Programming option.

File | Import | Structure

Imports Structure data from a third party disk file into the current Project.

NOTE: After the data has been imported, it is put into a Structure (STR) file and need not be imported again.

When this command is executed, the Windows File Open dialog box will open, as shown below. • Choose the appropriate external file from the File Name & Extension list on the lower right of

the dialog box.

The Files Extension List (lower right side) contains the names and extensions of the third party formats that can be imported into a Structure (STR) file.

• Select a file to import, and click on Open to import it.


17

Import Structure File Dialog Box Showing a Structure File Selected.

Importing ASCII Text Spreadsheet Files

Many third party software packages can export data in an ASCII text spreadsheet format. Structure, Data Block and Shape Tables can each be imported from ASCII text spreadsheet files. ME'scopeVES data files can also imported and exported in ASCII text spreadsheet format.

Creating a File Template

• Open any Project that contains a Structure (STR), Data Block (BLK), or Shape Table (SHP) file. • Execute File | Export in the appropriate file window to export the file in ASCII text spreadsheet

format.

When files are exported from ME'scope in ASCII spreadsheet format, they are given different file extensions; (.STS) for Structure, (.BLS) for Data Block, and (.SHS) for Shape Table files.

• Open the file in a text processor (such as MS Word) or a spreadsheet program (such as MS Excel).

• Paste the columns of data from the third party spreadsheet file into the (STS), (BLS), or (SHS) file.

• Edit the header information as required to describe the new data in the file. • Save the ASCII text file to disk. • Execute one of the File | Import commands in the ME'scopeVES window to import the ASCII text

file. • See Importing a (Structure, Data Block, or Shape Table) in Spreadsheet Format in their

respective Window Command chapters for more details.

Importing From a UFF File


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The Universal File Format (UFF

The UFF Format

) is commonly used for exchanging data between different structural analysis applications. ME'scope can import & export data in the UFF format. The most common UFF file format stores everything as ASCII text. Measurement data can also be stored in a binary UFF data format.

• Execute File | Export in any Structure, Data Block or Shape Table window. • Choose ASCII Universal File Format in the Save as type list in the dialog box that opens, and

click on Save. • Open the UFF file in a text processor.

Each line of data in a UFF file is arranged in fixed field format. This means that all of the characters on each line must be precisely in the correct columns to be readable.

• Each UFF data type is stored as a data set. • Each UFF data set begins and ends with a "-1" line. • Each UFF data set also has an identification number, which is on the second line of the data set.

ME'scope can import and export the following numbered data sets,

UFF Data Set Number Type of Data

15 Points

82 Lines

55 Shapes

58 Measurements

In UFF terminology, Points are called Grid Points, Lines are called Trace Lines, and mode shapes are called Functions at Nodal DOFs.

• Imported Point and Line data is put into a Structure file. • Imported mode shape data is put into a Shape Table file.

File | Import | Data Block

Imports time or frequency domain measurements from third party data files. • After the data has been imported, it is saved in a Data Block (BLK) file in the current Project and

need not be imported again.

When this command is executed, the Windows Open dialog box will open, as shown below. • Choose the appropriate external file from the File Name & Extension list on the lower right of

the dialog box. • The File Name & Extension list contains the names and extensions of the third party file

formats that can be imported into ME'scope. • Select a file to import, and click on Open to import it


19

Import Data Block Dialog Box Showing Multiple Files Selected.

Selecting Multiple Files

Some analyzers and data acquisition systems save only one measurement per disk file. • Hold down the Shift to select a range of files listed in the Windows Open dialog box. • Hold down the Ctrl key to select individual files listed in the Windows Open dialog box. • Click on the Open button to open the files.

Measurement Selection Dialog Box

If the selected files contain different types of measurements, the Measurement Selection dialog box will open.

• Select the time domain or frequency domain measurements tab, if both are available in the imported files.

• Press buttons in the Translate column to select individual measurements. • Click on the Translate button to translate the selected files.


20

Measurement Selection Dialog Box.

Translate Files Dialog Box

Each measurement listed in this dialog box is imported into a Trace and put into a Data Block file. • Change X Axis Button

• Allows you to edit the time or frequency axis parameters (Block Size, Start Value, Resolution, End Value).

• Load Previous Values Button • Loads previously used spreadsheet values into the spreadsheet. • This is useful for restoring previously used DOFs, Units, etc.

• Use File Name as DOFs Button • Uses the imported data file name as the DOFs on each measurement. • DOFs are listed in the DOFs column of the spreadsheet. • Following are examples of file names that can be interpreted as Trace DOFs.

• Roving DOF: 1Z.Ext • Roving & Reference DOFs: 1Z2Z.ext, 1Z_2Z.Ext • Reference DOF: _2Z.Ext • Measurement Set: 1Z_2Z[1].Ext, _2Z[1].Ext • Negative Direction: -1Z.Ext, m1Z.Ext • Rotational DOF: 1rX.Ext or 1U.Ext, 1rY.Ext or 1V.Ext, 1rZ.Ext or 1W.Ext


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Translate Files Dialog Box.

File | Import | Shape Table

Imports Shape data from a third party disk file into the current Project. • After the data has been imported, it is put into a Shape Table (SHP) file and need not be imported

again.

When this command is executed, the Windows Open dialog box will open, as shown below. • Choose the appropriate external file from the File Name & Extension list on the lower right of

the dialog box.

The File Name & Extension list contains the names and extensions of all of the third party file formats that can be imported into a Shape Table (SHP) file.

• Select a file to import, and click on Open to import it.


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Import Shape Table Dialog Box Showing a File Selected.

File | Import | Project

Imports a pre-Version 5.0 ME'scope Project file and all of the data files referenced by it. • After the data has been imported, it is put into a new ME'scope Project (VTprj) file and need not

be imported again.

When this command is executed, the Windows File Open dialog box will open. All of the ME'scope pre-Version 5.0 Project files (extension (PRJ)), will be displayed in the dialog box.

• Select a (PRJ) Project file, and click on Open to import it.

File | Import | Add File

Adds any third party disk file to the current Project file. Examples of added files are Windows media (WMV), MS Word (DOC) or MS Excel (XLS) files. An added file;

1. Remains separate on the disk

2. Is only referenced by the Project

3. Is opened in its own associated Windows program

NOTE: Each added file type must be associated with another Windows application program to open it from within ME'scope.

When this command is executed, the Windows File Open dialog box will open. • Choose the appropriate external file from the File Name & Extension list on the lower right of

the dialog box. • Double click on the file name, or select it and click on the Open button.


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Add File Dialog Box Showing All File Extensions Displayed.

Display Menu

Display | Center ME'scope Window

Centers the ME'scope window on the Windows desktop.

NOTE: Repeated execution of this command alternately centers the window and returns it to its former position.

Display | ME'scope Toolbars

If checked, Toolbars are displayed in the ME'scope window.

Display | Status Bar

If checked, the Status Bar is displayed at the bottom of the ME'scope window.


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ME'scope (Main) Window.

Help Menu

Help | Tutorial Help

Opens the Tutorial Help window.

• This window contains all of the same material as the Tutorial chapters, Volumes IA & IB of the Operating Manual.

Help | Commands Help

Opens the Commands Help window. • This Help window contains all of the same material as the Commands chapters, Volumes IIA &

IIB of the Operating Manual.

NOTE: The Help window can be left open during other operations in ME'scopeVES.

Help | Show Tool Tips

If checked, hover the mouse pointer over a button on a Toolbar to display a brief description (Tool Tip) of the command.

• See the Introduction to ME'scopeVES chapter for details on adding commands to Toolbars.


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ME'scopeVES Window Showing a Tool Tip.

Help | About

Opens the ME'scopeVES About box, as shown below.

About Box.

License Number • The license number is unique for your Software.


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• If your software uses a hardware Security Key, the license file (VESxxxxx.DAT) installed on your hard drive must match the serial number on your Security Key in order to authorize ME'scope for operation.

License Type • The type of license for your software (Single User, Educational, Site, Network, Monthly, or

Annual)

License Key • The name of the hardware Security Key that is required with your license..

User Support Expiration • The date after which you can no longer download new date codes of software from the Vibrant

Internet site. • Your current date code of software will operate indefinitely unless you have a Monthly or Annual

License. • If you have a Monthly or Annual License, ME'scopeVES will not operate after the Expiration

date. • Annual User Support renewal is strongly recommended to keep your software current with the

latest improvements and bug fixes.

Version • The Version number is a unique number assigned to the software currently installed on your

computer. • The Version number is incremented each time a new Date Code of software is released. • The least significant part of the Version number is always incremented with each new Date Code. • The most significant part is only incremented with major releases of the software.

Date Code • The software Date Code is the date on which the software was released for customer shipments,

and put on the Vibrant Technology Internet site for downloading.

Options List • A list of all of the ME'scopeVES Options that are enabled for operation with your License.

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Structure Window Commands

Structure Window in Quad View.

This chapter contains descriptions of the basic commands in the Structure window.

NOTE: Additional Structure window commands are documented in the Command Reference chapters for certain ME'scopeVES Options.

The Structure window is used for; • Drawing a 3D structure model. • Animating shape data on the model. • Executing commands for the SDM, Experimental FEA, and FEA Model Updating options.

Drawing & Animation States

The Structure window has two states, Draw & Animate. In the Draw state, you can interactively draw and modify a 3D model of the test article. In the Animate state, shapes from the current Animation Source are displayed in animation on the 3D model.

• In the Draw state, the Draw menu is enabled. • In the Animate state, the Animate menu is enabled.


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Animation Sources

• Any Data Block (BLK), Shape Table (SHP), or Acquisition window (ACQ) is an Animation Source.

• All Animation Sources are listed in a drop down list on the Structure window Toolbar.

Graphics Area & Objects Spreadsheet

The Structure window contains a graphics area on the left and an Objects spreadsheet on the right, separated by a vertical blue splitter bar.

• Drag the blue splitter bar horizontally in the window to make the graphics area or the Objects spreadsheet larger.

• The graphics area on the left contains a 3D model of the structure. • The Objects spreadsheet on the right lists the properties of all of the Objects of the current

Object type.

Menu Commands

Menu command descriptions in this chapter are ordered by command menu (from left to right), and then by the commands in each menu (from top to bottom).

• Each command is executed by choosing it from its command menu, or by clicking on its Tool if it is on a Toolbar.

• See the Command Toolbars section in the Introduction to ME'scope chapter for details on customizing the Toolbars in this window.

Structure Mouse & Keyboard Operations

NOTE: To enlarge this text, click on it, hold down the Ctrl key and spin the mouse wheel.

Right Click Menus

• Right click on a spreadsheet to display a menu of frequently used spreadsheet commands. • Right click on the graphics area to display a menu of frequently used window commands.

Re-Ordering Spreadsheet Columns

• Click on a spreadsheet column header and drag it to its new position.

Scrolling Spreadsheets

If a vertical scroll bar is displayed next to a spreadsheet, • Click on the spreadsheet and spin the mouse wheel to scroll the spreadsheet vertically.

Spreadsheet Text Size

• To change the text size, click on the spreadsheet, hold down the Ctrl key, and spin the mouse wheel.

Rotation in the 3D View


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• Click & drag the mouse in the 3D View to rotate the structure model.

Zooming

• Click in the graphics area, and spin the mouse wheel to zoom in or out on the structure model.

Panning the Display

• Hold down the Shift key, and click & drag to Pan the structure model in the graphics area.

Toggle Object Selection

• Hold down the Ctrl key, and click in the graphics area to toggle the selection of the nearest Object of the current Object type.

Select a Range of Objects

• Click on a Select button of the first Object in the Objects spreadsheet. • Hold down the Shift key, and click on the Select button of the last Object to select all Objects

between the first and last Object

Object Selection Box

• Execute Edit | Select Objects | Selection Box. • Hold down the Ctrl key and draw a box to toggle the selection of the Objects (of the current

Object type) in the box. • Hold down the Shift key and draw a box to enclose the Objects to be added to the selected

Objects. • Hold down the Alt key and draw a box to enclose all Objects to be un-selected.

Shape Values during Animation

• Execute Animate | Step | Stop/Continue to pause the animation. • Hold down the Ctrl key, and click near a Point to toggle the display of its shape values.

Delete Key

• In the Drawing state, press the Delete key to delete all selected Objects (of the current Object type) from the structure model.

• (This is the same as executing Edit | Delete Selected Objects.)

F2, F3 & F4 Keys

• Used with Edit | Drag Selected Objects and Edit | Resize Selected Objects to control the movement and re-sizing of selected Objects.

During Dwell Animation

• Press Left or Right Arrow key to move the cursor left or right in the Data Block or Acquisition window.

• Press Left or Right Arrow key to display the next or previous shape in the Shape Table window.


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Cut, Copy & Paste Text

• Select one or more spreadsheet text cells. • Hold down the Ctrl key and press the X key to Cut the selected text to the Clipboard. • Hold down the Ctrl key and press the C key to Copy the selected text to the Clipboard. • Hold down the Ctrl key and press the V key to Paste text from the Clipboard into the selected

cells.

Object Spreadsheets

The properties of each modeling Object are displayed and edited in the Objects spreadsheet.

NOTE: Only the properties of Objects of the current Object Type (selected in the Edit | Object Type list) are displayed in the Objects spreadsheet.

• Each row contains all properties of a single Object. • Each column contains a single property for all Objects.

NOTE: Most operations are performed on selected Objects, or on all Objects if none are selected.

Scroll Bars

Vertical and horizontal scroll bars are displayed if there is more data to display in an Object spreadsheet.

To scroll vertically, • Click on the spreadsheet and spin the mouse wheel. • Or click & drag the vertical scroll bar.

To scroll horizontally, • Click & drag the horizontal scroll bar.

Select, Hide, Label, Color & Bold Columns

All Object spreadsheets contain the following columns,

Select Object button Selects or Un-selects each Object.

• Contains the unique row number of the Object in the spreadsheet.

Visible button Hides or Shows each Object on the structure model display.

Label A text label for each Object.

• Point labels are used for numbering Points, and for assigning measurements (M#s) to Points & directions on the structure model.

Color The color for each Object on the structure model.


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Bold button If depressed, the Object is displayed as bold.

• Points are displayed as larger dots. • All other Objects are displayed using thick lines.

Showing & Hiding Spreadsheet Columns

• Right click on any spreadsheet and execute Show/Hide Columns from the menu.

The File | Structure Options box will open displaying the Show/Hide tab. • Check columns to show them, and Un-check columns to hide them.

Reset Spreadsheet Column Widths

• Right click on any spreadsheet and execute Reset Column Widths from the menu.

The File | Structure Options box will open displaying the Show/Hide tab. • Click on the Reset Column Widths button.

Editing Spreadsheet Properties by Column

• Select the Objects to be edited, or un-select all Objects to edit the properties of all Objects. • Double click on the column heading for the property to be edited. • Choose or enter a property value in the dialog box that opens, and click on OK.

Zoom & Pan

To Zoom the structure model in a View, • Click in the View to make it active, and spin the mouse wheel.

To Pan the structure model in a View, • Hold down the Shift key, and click & drag the mouse in the View.

To Re-center the structure model in a View, • Click in the View to make it active, and execute Display | mooZ

NOTE: The Display | View Control command can also be used to Zoom & Pan the active View.

Rotation in the 3D View

• Click in the 3D View, and drag the mouse pointer to rotate the structure model.

NOTE: The Display | View Control command can also be used to rotate and change the perspective distance to the structure model in the 3D View.

File | Save Structure

Saves the Structure file into the current Project file on disk.


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File | Save Structure As...

Saves a copy of the Structure file with a new name into the current Project file on disk.

File | Save In Library

Saves the current structure model into the ME'scope SubStructure Library on the disk. • The entire model is saved into the Library as a single SubStructure. • The current Structure file name is used as the SubStructure name. • Any model in a Structure window can be saved into the SubStructure Library. • Any model in the Library can be used for building other structure models.

NOTE: The SubStructure Library consists of one or more Structure files contained in a Project file named ME'scope Library.VTprj.

• Execute Project | Open Library in the ME'scope window to open the SubStructure Library.

SubStructure Browser

All of the Structures in the SubStructure Library are displayed in the SubStructure browser when the Drawing Assistant tabs are displayed.

• See Draw | Drawing Assistant for details.

Saving a Single SubStructure

• Select the desired SubStructure. • Execute Edit | Copy Objects to File, and copy the selected SubStructure to a new Structure

window. • Execute File | Save In Library in the new Structure window to save the SubStructure into the

Library.

File | Save Graphics in a File

Saves the Structure model graphics into a disk file. • Graphics files can be saved in the JPG, GIF, PNG or BMP file formats.

File | Export Structure

Exports the model in the Structure window to a disk file in an external disk format. When this command is executed, the Windows File Save dialog box is opened.

• All external file formats for exporting Structure files are listed in the Save as type list. • Choose an export file format from the Save as type list. • Choose a disk folder, or create a new one. • Enter the desired file name into the File name box, and click on the Save button.

Exporting a UFF File


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The table below shows the Data Set Type that is created when a Structure file is exported in UFF file format.

ME'scope File Type of Data UFF Data Type

Structure (STR) Structure Points & Lines

15 & 82

Shape Table (SHP) Shapes 55

Data Block (BLK) Time Waveforms, FRFs,

Transmissibility's, Auto & Cross Spectra,

Fourier Spectra.

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Exporting a Structure & Shape Table into the Same UFF File

• Export the STR file first, and then export the SHP file into the same UFF file.

Exporting Shapes in Global Coordinates

• Execute File | Clone Structure & Source. • Click on Yes in the following dialog box. • Export the Structure & Shape Table into the Same UFF File from the cloned Structure & Shape

Table files.

Importing a Structure Model in Text Format

The Structure spreadsheet file format (with extension .TXT) is used to import a Structure model in text format.

1. Create a Text File Template

• Open the binary Structure (STR) file from disk. (Use any file, or one from the Examples or Demos folder.)

• Execute File | Export and save the file as a template file (in .TXT format).

2. Add Your Data to the Text File Template


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• Open the (.TXT) template file in a spreadsheet program like Microsoft Excel or a word processor like Microsoft Word.

• Replace the Structure data (Point coordinates and optionally Lines & Surfaces) in the spreadsheet columns with your data.

• Edit the other information where applicable, and save the file to disk.

.TXT File In Excel Spreadsheet.

3. Import the Text (.TXT) File

• Make sure that the (.TXT) file is no longer open in the spreadsheet or word processor program. • Execute File | Import | Structure and import the (.TXT) file into a Structure file.

File | Copy to Clipboard Menu

Copy Structure Graphics

Copies the currently displayed graphics area to the Windows Clipboard.

Copy Objects Spreadsheet

Copies the currently displayed Objects spreadsheet to the Windows Clipboard.

File | Print Menu

NOTE: The installed Windows printer must be a graphics printer to use these commands.

File | Print | Graphics

Prints the currently displayed graphics on the system printer, or into a PDF file.

File | Print | Spreadsheet


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Prints the currently displayed Objects spreadsheet on the system printer, or into a PDF file.

File | Clone Structure and Source

Copies both the Structure (STR) file and its current Animation Source file into new Structure & Source windows.

When this command is executed, dialog boxes will open allowing you to name the new Structure & Source files. The following dialog box will also open,

Measurement to Global Coordinates Dialog Box.

• Click on No to maintain the current Measurement Axes and Animation Equations in the cloned files.

• Click on Yes to convert the Measurement Axes and Animation Equations to Global coordinates in the cloned files.

File | Structure Options

Opens the Structure Options box.

NOTE: Many options take effect as soon as they are chosen in the Options box.


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Structure Options Box.

Display Tab

Colors • Choose colors for the borders, background, and new Objects.

Vertical Axis • Choose which Global axis of the structure model to display in the vertical direction.

Background Image • Insert a digital photograph (.JPG) file into the background of the X, Y or Z-Axis View.

Disable Auto Scaling • If checked, the Point coordinates remain fixed in relation to the background image in a View.

NOTE: Un-check Disable Auto Scaling after tracing is completed.

Point Size • Changes the size of Points displayed on the structure model.

Units Tab


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• Choose the Mass, Force, and Length units to be used in the Structure window.

These units are displayed in the appropriate column headings in the Drawing & FEA Object spreadsheets, and in the Drawing Assistant

NOTE: Correct Structure window units are not required in order to draw a structure model and animate shapes on it.

. Structure window units must be consistent with the Shape Table or Data Block units for certain SDM and FEA commands.

Labels Tab

Axes Lines • If checked, a line is displayed for each Global (X, Y, Z) axis in each View. • The axis lines cross at the Global (X, Y, Z) origin. • The color of the axis lines can also be chosen by clicking on the color box next to Axis Lines.

XYZ Axes • If checked, the Global (X, Y, Z) Axes are displayed in the lower right corner of each View.

Legend • If checked, a legend box is displayed in each View. • The background color of the legend box can also be chosen by clicking on the color box next to

the Legend. • Click & drag to move this box in a View.

Animation Source • If checked, the name of the Animation Source

Settings

file being used for animation is listed in the Legend box.

• If checked, the Amplitude and speed of animation are listed in the Legend box.

User • If checked, the contents of the User text box are listed in the Legend box.

Object Labels • If Label Background is checked, a background box is drawn around each Object label. • If Transparent Background is checked, the Label background is made transparent.

Show/Hide Tab

Shows/hides columns of the Objects spreadsheet. • Right click on the Objects spreadsheet and select Show/Hide Columns from the menu to

display this tab. • On the Show/Hide tab, check columns to show them, un-check columns to hide them. .

Lights Tab

• Used for controlling the Surface lights in the Structure window.

There are two lights for lighting the Surfaces of a structure model.


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Controls • Adjust the Intensity of each light between Low & High. • Adjust the Shininess of the structure model Surfaces between Low & High. • Adjust the Ambient light between Low & High.

Screen Area • Drag the red or blue light icon in this area to re-position the lights in the Structure window.

Animation Tab

Animate Using • If Baseline Line Color is checked, the Lines on the structure model (or the left-hand model in

Comparison display) use the color in the color box. • If Comparison Line Color is checked, the Lines on the right-hand structure model in

Comparison display use the color in the color box. • Click on the color box to change its color.

Comparison Animation Source Position • If Sources Below Structure Window is checked, both animation Source windows are displayed

below the Structure window during animation. • If Sources Right of Structure Window is checked, both animation Source windows are

displayed on the right side of the Structure window during animation.


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Movies Tab

Movie Quality • Low quality utilizes compression, so that the Movie file is smaller. • High quality doesn't use file compression, so the Movie file can be very large.

Frames per Second • Frames per Second is the desired playback speed for Digital Movies • Depending on the speed of your computer, Frames per Second should be adjusted to achieve a

suitable playback speed.

File | Close Structure

Closes the Structure window. • Any window can also be closed by clicking on the close button in the upper right corner of

the window.

Opening a Window

To open a Structure window in the Work Area, • Double click on its name in either pane of the Project Panel. • Or right click on its name in either pane of the Project Panel, and execute Open from the menu.

Edit | Object Type List

Lists all drawing Object types, plus all FEA Object types (if authorized).

NOTE: FEA Object types are only listed if the SDM, Experimental FEA, or FEA Model Updating Option is authorized by your ME'scope license.

Drawing Object types are; • Points • Lines • Surfaces • SubStructures

Current Object Type

• The current Object Type is displayed in the list on the Toolbar, and is checked in the Edit | Object Type menu.

• The properties of all Objects of the current Object Type are listed in the Objects spreadsheet. • Operations can only be performed on the current Object Type.

Edit | Add Objects

If checked, the Add Objects operation is enabled for the current Object Type. • See Tutorial #2 - Drawing Structure Models for details.


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Point Objects Spreadsheet

Lists the properties of all Points on the structure model. • The Point Objects spreadsheet is displayed by selecting Points from the Edit | Object Type List. • Each Point is defined by its global coordinates, (X Coordinate, Y Coordinate, Z Coordinate)

listed in its row of the Points spreadsheet.

NOTE: Only Points are required for displaying shapes in animation. Lines and Surfaces are optional.

Point Properties Spreadsheet.

Label Column

• Contains an (optional) text label for each Point.

All Points are referenced by their spreadsheet row number & [Label]. The Point Label is used to describe the Point, or for Point numbering.

• Numbered Point Labels are used by the Draw | Animation Equations | Create Measured Equations (Assign M#s) command.

• (See Animate | Create Measured Equations (Assign M#s) in the Data Block window commands chapter for details.)

Point Coordinates Columns

• These columns (X Coord, Y Coord & Z Coord) contain the Global rectangular (Cartesian) coordinates of each Point.

If Length units are specified on the Units tab in the File | Structure Options dialog box, those units are displayed in each Coordinate column heading.

NOTE: Correct length units are not required in order to build a structure model and animate shapes with it.


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Typing in Point Coordinates

To manually enter Point coordinates from the keyboard, • Click in the X, Y or Z column of the last row of the Points spreadsheet, and press the down

arrow key on the keyboard. • Type the coordinates into the Point Coordinate columns in the new spreadsheet row.

Pasting Coordinates from the Clipboard

If you have already copied Point coordinates to the Windows Clipboard, those coordinates can be pasted into the Points spreadsheet, provided that it has enough rows in it.

NOTE: You must have enough rows in the Points spreadsheet before pasting coordinates from the Clipboard

To create extra rows in the Points spreadsheet • Click in the X, Y or Z Coord column of the last row of the Points spreadsheet, and press the

down arrow key on the keyboard. • Or open any Structure window that already has rows in the Points spreadsheet.

To paste Point coordinates from the Clipboard, • Click & drag in the Points spreadsheet to select the appropriate Coordinate columns and rows

of spreadsheet cells. • Hold down Ctrl and press the V key to paste the coordinates from the Clipboard into the

selected cells.

Center Point

• Center Point: Any Point that is listed in the Center Point column of the Points spreadsheet. • Radial Point: Any Point that references a Center Point in its Center Point column in the Points

spreadsheet.

Center Points are used for the following purposes; • Describing the center of cylindrical or spherical structures. • Defining the axis of rotation for rotating SubStructures during animation.

NOTE: A SubStructure will rotate if Yes in chosen in the Rotate column of the SubStructures spreadsheet. All Radial Points rotate about the Z-axis of a Center Point during SubStructure rotation.

• Animating Shaft Rotational measurements. (See Animating Shaft Rotational Data in the Data Block commands chapter)

Display Column

• Normal: Displays a Point if Points is the current Object type, or if Display | Points | Show Points is checked.

• Always: Displays a Point always.

Area & Normal Vector Columns

• These two columns are used for calculating the Sound Power passing through an acoustic surface.


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• Acoustic Area: The acoustic area surrounding the Point. • Acoustic Normal: The normal vector to the acoustic surface surrounding the Point.

These values are automatically calculated when an acoustic surface it created with the Drawing Assistant

Deformation Column

.

• Defines the type of animation allowed at a Point during animation.

Deformation • If selected, Deformation will occur at the Point using shape data. • Animate | Deformation | Deformed must be checked for deformation to occur.

Arrows • If selected, an Arrow will be displayed at the Point, indicating the magnitude and direction of the

shape data. • Animate | Deformation | Arrows must be checked for arrows to be displayed.

Both • If selected, either Deformation or Arrows, or both types of animation can occur at a Point.

None • If selected, the Point will not move during animation.

Icon Column

• Displays an Icon at a Point.

Icons are useful for depicting a transducer at measurement Points. During shape animation, color contours from the animation source are displayed on each Icon.

Rotating Point Icons

• Select the Points with Icons to be rotated. • Execute Edit | Rotate Selected Objects and check Rotate Point Icons in the dialog box.

Re-sizing Point Icons

• Select the Points with Icons to be re-sized. • Execute Edit | Resize Selected Objects and click on Yes in the dialog box that opens.

Adding Points to a Model

Adding Points Graphically

• Choose Points from the Edit | Object Type List.

• Execute Edit | Add Objects to enable the Add Points operation. • Move the mouse pointer into a desired position in a View and click to add a Point. • Execute Edit | Add Objects again to terminate the Add Points operation.


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Each new Point is added to the structure model and to the Points spreadsheet as a selected Point.

WARNING: When the Add Objects operation is enabled, each click of the mouse will add a new Point to the structure model.

Adding Points to the Points Spreadsheet

• Place the mouse pointer in the X Coord, Y Coord or Z Coord column in the last row of the Points spreadsheet.

• Press the Down Arrow key on the keyboard to add a new Point;

The coordinates of the previous row are copied into the new row when a new Point is added to the spreadsheet.

• The coordinate in the selected cell is incremented by the difference between the previous two coordinates in its column, or by ”1” if there is no difference.

Editing Point Coordinates

Point coordinates can be edited in two ways; • Select the Points to be edited, execute Draw| Drag Objects, and drag the selected Points in a

View. (See Draw| Drag Objects for details.) • Or edit the Point coordinates in the Points spreadsheet.

Editing Spreadsheet Coordinates

• Select the Points with coordinates to be edited. • Double click on the appropriate X coord, Y coord or Z coord column heading to edit the

coordinates of the selected Points. • In the dialog box that opens, choose Replace with, Add to or Scale by. • Enter the new coordinate value into the box, and click on OK.

Edit Point Coordinates Dialog Box.

Distance Between Two Points

• Choose Points from the Edit | Object Type List.


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• Hold down the Ctrl key, and click near a Point to select it. • Move the mouse Pointer near to a different Point.

The distance between the two Points is displayed on the Status bar.

Distance Between Two Points Shown on Status Bar.

Line Objects Spreadsheet

Contains the properties of all Line Objects on the structure model. • The Line Objects spreadsheet is displayed by selecting Lines from the Edit | Object Type List. • Each Line is defined between two Points, labeled Point 1 and Point 2 in its row of the Line

Objects spreadsheet. • Each end Point (Point 1 or Point 2) of a Line is defined by its row number in the Points

spreadsheet followed by its [Point Label]. • The row number of each Line end Point is unique. • The end Point [Point Label] is optional and is enclosed in brackets [ ].


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Line Properties Spreadsheet.

Adding Lines to a Model

• Choose Lines from the Edit | Object Type List.

• Execute Edit | Add Objects to enable the Add Lines operation.

All of the Points are displayed as bold Points so that you can see them more clearly. • Click near the first end Point of the Line to select it. • If you select the wrong first end Point, click on it again to un-select it, and repeat the step

above. • Click near the second end Point to add a new Line to the model, and a new row to the Lines

spreadsheet.

WARNING: When the Add Lines operation is enabled, a new Line will be added to the model each time you click near two different Points in succession.

• Execute Edit | Add Objects again to terminate the Add Lines operation.

Surface Objects Spreadsheet

Contain the properties of all Triangle Surface or Quad Surface Objects on the structure model. • Structure models can have two types of Surfaces, Surface Triangles and Surface Quads. • Surfaces are required for displaying solid models, surface textures, or contour colors during

animation.

Surface Triangles Spreadsheet

The Surface Triangles spreadsheet contains the properties of all Surface Triangle Objects on the structure model.


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• This spreadsheet is displayed by selecting Surface Triangles in the Edit | Object Type List. • Each Surface Triangle is defined between three corner Points (Point 1, Point 2, and Point 3).

Each corner Point (Point 1, Point 2, Point 3) of a Surface Triangle is defined by its row number in the Points spreadsheet followed by its [Point Label].

• The row number of each Surface Triangle end Point is unique. • The end Point [Point Label] is optional and is enclosed in brackets [ ].

Surface Triangles Spreadsheet.

Surface Quads

The Surface Quads spreadsheet contains the properties of all of the Surface Quad Objects on the structure model.

• This spreadsheet is displayed by selecting Surface Quads in the Edit | Object Type List. • Each Surface Quad is defined between four corner Points (Point 1, Point 2, Point 3, and Point 4).


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Surface Quads Spreadsheet.

Adding Surfaces to a Model

• Choose either Surface Triangles or Surface Quads in the Edit | Object Type list.

• Execute Edit | Add Objects to enable the Add Surfaces operation.

All of the Points are displayed as bold Points so you can see them more clearly. • Click near the first corner Point of the Surface to select it. • If you select the wrong corner Point, click on it again to un-select it, and continue selecting

Points. • Click near the second corner Point of the Surface to select it. • Click near the third corner Point of the Surface to select it.

If adding Surface Triangles, when you click near the third corner Point, a new Surface Triangle is added to the model, and a new row is added to the Surface Triangles spreadsheet.

If adding Surface Quads, when you click near the fourth corner Point, a new Surface Quad is added to the model, and a new row is added to the Surface Quads spreadsheet.

WARNING: When the Add Surfaces operation is enabled, a new Surface Triangle will be added to the model each time you click near three different Points in succession, and a Surface Quad each time you click near four Points.

• Execute Edit | Add Objects again to terminate the Add Surfaces operation.

SubStructure Objects Spreadsheet

Contains the properties of all Substructure Objects defined for the structure model. • A SubStructure simply references a collection of Points, Lines, Surfaces, (and FEA Objects).

Substructures are used for,


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• Building more complex structure models by manipulating several smaller parts with simpler geometries.

• Hiding parts of a structure model to make it easier to draw or view shapes in animation on it.

NOTE: The same Points, Lines, Surfaces, (& FEA Objects) can be referenced by multiple SubStructures.

A Model with Eight SubStructure Objects..

Color Column

Contains four color bars that contain the colors of the Points, Lines, Surfaces, and FEA Objects that are referenced by to each SubStructure.

• If an (X) symbol is displayed in place of a color bar, there is more than one color for the Objects referenced by the SubStructure.

• If the color for an Object type is changed in the SubStructure spreadsheet, the color of all Objects referenced by the SubStructure will change.

Transparent button

When this button is depressed, all of the Surfaces referenced by the SubStructure are displayed as transparent.

Hide Texture button

When this button is depressed, the surface textures of all of the Surface textures referenced by the SubStructure will not be displayed.

Deformation Column

Defines the type of animation allowed at the Points referenced by a SubStructure.

Deformation If Deformation is selected, the Point will be moved (deformed) during shape animation.


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NOTE: Animate | Deformation | Deformed must be checked for deformation to occur during shape animation.

Arrows If Arrows is selected, an arrow will be displayed at the Point, indicating the magnitude & direction of the shape data during shape animation.

NOTE: Animate | Deformation | Arrows must be checked for arrows to be displayed during shape animation.

Both If selected, either Deformation or Arrows, or both types of animation can occur at a Point.

None If selected, the Point will not move during animation.

Contours Data Type Column

Defines the type of data that is displayed using color contours on Substructure Surfaces during animation.

NOTE: One of the Animate | Contours commands must be checked in order to display color contours.

Vector Only Vector data will be displayed using color contours.

Scalar Only Scalar data will be displayed using color contours.

Shaft Rotation Only Shaft Rotation data will be displayed using color contours.

FEA Rotation Only FEA Rotation data will be displayed using color contours.

None No color contours will be displayed on the SubStructure.

Creating a SubStructure

• See the Draw | SubStructure | Add Objects to SubStructure command reference for details.

Rotating SubStructures

Components of a machine or structure can be made to rotate during animation by defining each component as a SubStructure.

• Each SubStructure with Yes selected in the Rotate column in the SubStructures spreadsheet will rotate during shape animation.


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• Each SubStructure will rotate about its Center Point(s), using the rotational speed defined in the RPM column of the SubStructures spreadsheet.

• A rotating SubStructure rotates about the Z-axis of the Measurement Axes of its Center Point(s).

• When animation is initiated, all SubStructures setup for rotation will also rotate when "None" is selected in the Animation Source list.

• If an animated shape has a speed (RPM or Hz) associated with it, the rotational speed of all rotating SubStructures is scaled to the speed of the shape being animated.

Creating a Rotating SubStructure

• Create the SubStructure to be rotated. (See the Draw | Add Selected Objects to SubStructure command reference for details.)

• Select the SubStructure. • Execute Draw | Create Center Point to create a Center Point for the SubStructure. • Execute Draw | Animation Equations | Equation Editor. • On the Measurement Axes tab, orient the Measurement Axes of the Center Point so that its Z-

Axis coincides with the axis of rotation.

NOTE: Rotation will only occur about the Z-Axis of a Center Point.

• Depress the Rotate button for the SubStructure in the Rotation column of the SubStructures spreadsheet.

• Enter the RPM of the rotating SubStructure into the RPM column of the SubStructure spreadsheet.

Testing the Rotation

• Select "None" in the Animation Source list on the Structure window Toolbar. • Execute Draw | Animate Shapes.

Edit | Undo, Redo

Edit | Undo

Restores the window to the state it was in before the last operation. • This command can be used repeatedly to undo the last N operations, N = Number of edits

saved. • The Number of edits saved is changed on the General tab in the Project | ME'scope Options

dialog box of the ME'scope window.

Edit | Redo

Restores the window to the state it was in before the last execution of the Edit | Undo command.

Selecting Objects

NOTE: Many operations in the Structure window are performed on selected Objects, or on all Objects if none are selected.


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• An Object is selected if its Select button is depressed in the Objects spreadsheet.

There are several ways to select Objects; • Hold down the Ctrl key and click near the center of an Object. • Depress the Select button for the Object in the Objects spreadsheet. • Enable Edit | Select Objects | Click Select, and click near the center of an Object in a View. • Execute Edit | Select Objects | Selection Box and draw a Selection Box to enclose Objects in

a View.

Using the Object Selection Box

When Edit | Select Objects | Selection Box is enabled, the mouse pointer will change to a cross when the pointer is moved inside a View.

• Move the cross pointer to a corner of the desired selection area. • Click & drag to draw a Selection Box enclosing the desired Objects. • Release the mouse button to select all Objects with geometric centers inside the selection box.

Using the Shift, Ctrl, & Alt Keys with the Selection Box

• Hold down the Shift key and draw a Selection Box to Add To the selected Objects. • Hold down the Ctrl key and draw a Selection Box to Toggle the selections of the enclosed

Objects. • Hold down the Alt key and draw a Selection Box to Un-select all of the enclosed Objects.

Selecting All Objects

• Double click on the Select column heading in the Objects spreadsheet until all Select buttons display Yes.

• Execute Edit | Select Objects | Select All . • Right click on the Objects spreadsheet, and execute Select All from the menu.

Un-selecting All Objects

• Double click on the Select column in the Objects spreadsheet until all of the Select buttons display No.

• Execute Edit | Select Objects | Select None . • Right click on the Objects spreadsheet, and execute Select None from the menu.

Toggle Object Selection

• Hold down the Ctrl key and click near the center of an Object. • Execute Edit | Select Objects | Invert Selection. • Hold down the Ctrl key and draw a Selection Box. • Right click on the Objects spreadsheet, and execute Invert Selection from the menu.

Selecting a Range of Objects in the Objects Spreadsheet


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• Click on the Select button to display Yes for the first Object in the range to be selected. • Hold down the Shift key, and click on the Select button for the last Object to be selected. • Yes will be displaying for all Objects in the range between the first and last Objects.

Edit | Select Objects Menu

This menu contains commands for selecting and un-selecting Objects of the current Object Type.

NOTE: The current Object Type is checked in the Edit | Object Type list on the Toolbar.

Select All

Selects all Objects of the current Object Type.

Invert Selection

Un-selects all selected Objects, and selects all un-selected Objects.

Select None

Un-selects all Objects of the current Object Type.

Select Labeled Points

Selects all Points that have Labels. • Labels are entered into the Labels column of the Point properties spreadsheet. • Right click on the Objects spreadsheet, and execute Select Labeled Points from the menu.

Selection Box

Selects or un-selects all Objects with geometric centers that le within a rectangular area of one of the Views. When it is executed, the mouse pointer will change to a cross when moved inside a View.

• Move the cross pointer to a corner of the desired selection area on one of the Views. • Click & drag to draw a Selection Box enclosing the desired Objects. • Release the mouse button to select the Objects. • Hold down the Shift key to Add To the Object selection. • Hold down the Ctrl key to Toggle the Object selection. • Hold down the Alt key to un-select the Objects within the selection box.

Click Select

Enables/disables the Click Select function. If checked, the Click Select function is enabled. • With Click Select enabled, click near the center of an Object in a View to select it.

Edit | Cut Objects to File

Removes selected Objects from the structure model and adds them to another Structure file.


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NOTE: If you attempt to cut Points that are being referenced by other Objects, you are given the option of also cutting the other Objects.

Edit | Copy Objects to File

Copies all (or selected) Objects from the structure model into another Structure file.

Copying Rules

1. If Objects other than Points are copied, then all Points referenced by the copied Objects will be copied also.

2. If SubStructures are copied, then all Objects referenced by the copied SubStructures will be copied also.

3. All Objects are duplicated if they are copied into the same Structure file as the one they are copied from.

Edit | Paste Objects from File

Pastes all (or selected) Objects from another Structure file into the current structure model.

Pasting Rules

1. If Objects other than Points are pasted, then all Points referenced by the pasted Objects will be pasted also.

2. If SubStructures are pasted, then all Objects referenced by the pasted SubStructures will be pasted also.

3. All Objects are duplicated if they are pasted from the same Structure file as the current Structure window.

Edit | Delete Objects

Deletes all selected Objects from the structure model.

Deleting Rules

• Pressing the Delete key on the keyboard is the same as executing this command. • If a Point that is referenced by other Objects is deleted, you are given the option of also deleting

the other Objects. • If a SubStructure is deleted, you are given the option of also deleting the Objects referenced by

the Substructure.

Display | Center Structure Window

Centers the Structure window in the Work Area of the ME'scope window.



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Display | Objects Spreadsheet

Moves the vertical blue splitter bar horizontally to show or hide the Objects spreadsheet.

Display | Structure Toolbars

Shows or hides the Structure window Toolbars. If checked, the Structure window Toolbars are shown.

Display Objects | Points Menu

Show Points

If checked, displays all Points as dots on the structure model.

NOTE: Points are automatically displayed when Points is chosen in the Edit | Object Type list. Point size can be changed on the Display tab in the File | Structure Options box.

Point Labels

If checked, displays the Point Label next to each Point on the structure model. (See below.)

The Point label display format is;

row (in the Points spreadsheet) [ text Label ]

NOTE: Point text Labels are optional. Labels are used to create Measured animation equations by matching M# DOFs to Points & directions on a structure model.

Acoustic Normals

If checked, displays the acoustic normal vector at each Point.

Point Icons

If checked, displays the Point Icon for each Point, if it has an Icon.

NOTE: Points Icons are optional. Point Icons are defined in the Icon column of the Points spreadsheet.

Display Objects | Lines Menu

Show Lines

If checked, displays the Lines on the structure model.

NOTE: Lines are automatically displayed when Lines is checked in the Edit | Object Type list.

Line Labels

If checked, displays Line text Labels on the structure model.


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NOTE: Line text Labels are optional. Line text Labels are entered into the Label column in the Line Objects spreadsheet.

Display Objects | Surfaces Menu

NOTE: Surface colors are changed in the Color column of the Surface Triangles or Surface Quads spreadsheets. If a Surface is also referenced by a SubStructure, its color can also be changed in the Colors column of the SubStructure spreadsheet.

Filled

If checked, Surfaces are displayed and filled with their Surface color.

NOTE: Surfaces are automatically displayed when Surface Triangles or Surface Quads is checked in the Edit | Object Type list.

Outlined

If checked, Surfaces are displayed in outlined format using their Surface color.

Texture

If checked, Surfaces are displayed using their Surface textures, if available.

Transparent

If checked, Surfaces are displayed as transparent Surfaces.

Surface Labels

If checked, Surface text Labels are displayed on the structure model.

NOTE: Surface text Labels are optional. Surface text Labels are entered into the Label column on the Surface Objects spreadsheet.

Lights

If checked, lighted Surfaces are displayed on the structure model. • See Lights Tab in the File | Structure Options section for details on surface lighting.

Surface Normals

If checked, Surface normals are displayed on the structure model. • Surface normals are used to display surfaces with lights and hidden lines.

Reverse Normals

If executed, the Surface normals of all (or selected) Surfaces are reversed in direction.

Display Objects | FEA Objects Menu


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Show Objects

If checked, FEA Objects are displayed on the structure model.

NOTE: FEA Objects are automatically displayed when an FEA Object is chosen in the Edit | Object Type list

Object Labels

If checked, FEA Objects text Labels are displayed on the structure model.

NOTE: FEA Object text Labels are optional. FEA Object text Labels are entered into the Label column in an FEA Objects spreadsheet.

Display | View Menu

Active View

NOTE: One of the four Views (X view, Y View, Z view, 3D View) is always the active View.

• Click on a View to make it active. • Or execute its command in the Display | View menu.

Quad View Versus Single View

NOTE: Either the Quad View or one of the four Views (X view, Y View, Z view, 3D View) is always displayed in the Structure window graphics area.

• Double click on a single View to display the Quad View. • Double click on one of the Views in the Quad View to display it alone.

Flip View

Displays the active View from the opposite side.


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Structure Window in Quad View.

Display | Zoom, mooZ

Display | Zoom

Initiates a display Zoom operation. After executing this command, • Move the mouse pointer into the View to be zoomed.

The mouse pointer will change to the cross when it enters a View. • Move the Zoom pointer to a corner of the area to be zoomed. • Click & drag to draw a Zoom Box on the area to be zoomed. • Move the Zoom pointer out of the graphics area to cancel a Zoom operation.

Using the Mouse Wheel

• Click on a View to make it active. • Spin the mouse wheel to Zoom the display of the structure model in or out.

Display | mooZ

Restores a full display of the structure model in the active View.

Display | Pan

Enables the Pan operation in the active View. Panning moves the structure model in a View. • Hold down the Shift key to enable a Pan operation.

• Or execute Display | Pan to enable a Pan operation.


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• Move the mouse pointer into a View.

The mouse pointer will change to a cross when it enters a View. • Click & drag to Pan the structure in the active View. • Move the cross pointer out of the graphics area to terminate the Pan operation.

Display | Re-Center All Views

Re-centers the structure model in all four Views in the Structure window.

Display | View Control

The View Control is used to; • Rotate the structure model in the 3D View. • Zoom, Pan, or change the Perspective distance of the structure model in the active View.

When this command is executed, the View Control is displayed in its sleep state in the upper right corner of the active View.

• Move the mouse pointer to the upper right corner of the View to wake up the View Control, as shown below.

View Control in the Sleep State.


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View Control in the Awake State.

Each part of the View Control performs a different function;

Arrows (3D View only) • Click on an arrow to Rotate the structure model.

Circle (3D View only) • Click & drag the circle clockwise or counter-clockwise to Rotate the structure model.

Middle Ball • Click & drag to Pan the structure model.

Vertical scroll bar • Click & drag to Zoom the structure model.

Horizontal scroll bar • Click & Drag to change the Perspective distance from the structure model.

Star • Click on the star to Reset all View Control parameters to default values.

Display | Auto Rotate 3D View Menu

NOTE: These commands control the continuous rotation of the structure model only around the vertical axis in the 3D View.

Rotate CCW

Successive execution causes the model in the 3D View to rotate faster in a counter clockwise (CCW) direction, or slower in a clockwise (CW) direction.


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Stop

Stops continuos rotation of the model in the 3D View.

Rotate CW

Successive execution causes the model in the 3D View to rotate faster in a clockwise (CW) direction, or slower in a counter clockwise (CCW) direction, in the 3D View.

Draw Menu

The Structure window is either in the Draw state or the Animate state. • In the Draw state, the Draw menu is enabled. • In the Animate state, the Animate menu is enabled.

Draw or Animate | Draw Structure

Terminates animation and returns the Structure window to the Draw state.

Draw or Animate | Animate Shapes

Initiates animation using shapes from a single Animation Source

The current Animation Source (Data Block, Shape Table, or Acquisition window) is displayed in the

Animation Source list

.

on the Structure window Toolbar.

NOTE: Animation can also be initiated by executing Tools | Animate Shapes from any Data Block, Shape Table, or Acquisition window.

Requirements for Animation

1. The structure model must have Animation equations at one or more Points. 2. An Animation Source (Data Block, Shape Table or Acquisition window) must be open in the

Work Area.

Animation from a Data Block or Acquisition Window

If the Animation Source is a Data Block or Acquisition window, animation depends on which Animate |

Method command is checked; • If Animate | Method | Sweep is checked, the cursor is swept through the Data Block or

Acquisition window, and the Trace values (M#s) at the cursor position are displayed as the shape.

• If Animate | Method | Sine Dwell is checked, the Trace values at the cursor position are modulated by sine wave values (ranging between -1 & +1) to give the shape a sinusoidal motion.

• If Animate | Method | Stationary Dwell is checked, the Trace values at the cursor position are displayed as the shape without modulation.

Animation from a Shape Table


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If the Animation Source is a Shape Table, animation depends on which Animate | Method command

is checked; • If Animate | Method | Sweep is checked, each shape in displayed in Sine Dwell animation,

followed by the next shape in the Shape Table. • After the last shape is animated, animation continues using the first shape. • If Animate | Method | Sine Dwell is checked, the selected Shape DOFs (M#s) are modulated

by sine wave values (ranging between -1 & +1) to give the shape a sinusoidal motion. • If Animate | Method | Stationary Dwell is checked, the selected Shape DOFs (M#s) are

displayed without modulation.

Which Shape Data is Displayed?

The shape data that is displayed during animation depends upon which data is displayed in the Animation Source.

• If Display | Real is checked, only the Real part of the Trace or Shape DOF data is animated on the structure model.

• If Display | Imaginary is checked, only the Imaginary part of the Trace or Shape DOF data is animated on the model.

• Otherwise complex (Magnitude & Phase) shape data is animated.

Changing the Animation Source

• Click on any Data Block, Shape Table or Acquisition window to make it the current Animation Source.

• Or choose a Data Block, Shape Table or Acquisition window from the Animation Source List to make it the current Animation Source.

• See the Tools | Create Animation Equations (Assign M#s) command description in the Data Block commands chapter for details.

Selected M#s

NOTE: If M#s are selected, then only shape data for the selected M#s is displayed in animation.

• Execute one of the Edit | Select Traces commands in a Data Block or Acquisition window to select Traces (M#s).

• Execute one of the Edit | Select DOFs commands in a Shape Table window to select shape DOFs (M#s).

Draw or Animate | Compare Shapes

Displays shapes from two Animation Sources together in animation. • Only enabled when two or more Animation Source• Use the Comparison Scroll Bar for moving the two structure models closer together or farther

apart.

windows are open.


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Comparison Animation With Sources Arranged on Right.

Arranging Windows During Animation

The Comparison Source positions are controlled from the Animation tab in the File | Structure Options dialog box.

• Check Sources Below Structure window to display the two Animation Source windows below the Structure window.

• Check Sources Right of Structure window to display the two Animation Source windows to the right of the Structure window.

Draw | Animation Equations | Equation Editor

Opens or closes the Animation Equation

When the Equation Editor is open, two tabs, Measurement Axes & Animation Equation, are displayed above the Points spreadsheet as shown below.

Editor.


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Animation Equation Editor.

Measurement Axes Tab

Used to define and orient the Measurement Axes at each Point on the structure model. • Measurement Axes are used to define the directions of the measurement sensors at each Point.

NOTE: The Measurement Axes allow you to mount the measurement sensors in arbitrary directions at each Point. The Measurement Axes do not have to coincide with the Global axes of the structure model.


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Structure Showing Cylindrical Measurement Axes.

The Measurement Axes of each Point are defaulted to coincide with the Global X, Y, Z axes of the structure model. To display the Measurement Axes for a Point,

• Check Show Axes on the Measurement Axes tab. • Select a Point to display its Measurement Axes. • Measurement Axes can be chosen as rectangular, cylindrical, spherical or machine

coordinates. Different symbols are used for each axis, according to the table below.

Measurement Axes Axes Symbols

Rectangular X, Y, Z

Cylindrical R (radial), T (tangential), Z (axial)

Spherical R (radial), T (tangential), P (elevation)

Machine H (horizontal), V (vertical), A (axial)

Rotating the Measurement Axes • Press one of the Rotate arrows to rotate the Measurement axes of all selected Points about a

Measurement or Global axis.

Rotational Increment


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• The amount of rotational increment (in degrees) that the Measurement Axes will rotate each time a rotate arrow is pressed.

Reset button • Returns the Measurement Axes to their default position.

Animation Equations Tab

Used to view & edit the Animation equations at each Point on the structure model. • Each Point on a structure model is animated by evaluating its Animation equations. • An Animation equation is simply a weighted summation of measurements (or M#s) in and

Animation Source window. • If the current Animation Source has an M# that is contained in an Animation equation, data from

the M# is used to evaluate the equation and animate the Point & direction (DOF) to which the equation belongs.

NOTE: Each Trace in a Data Block or Acquisition window has a unique M#. Each shape DOF in the DOFs spreadsheet of the a Shape Table also has a unique M#.

Once Animation equations are created, they become part of the Structure (STR) file and can be used to animate shape data from any Animation Source. Different types of Animation Equations can be created at each Point,

Translation Equations • Vibration data and acoustic intensity are Translation data. • Up to 3 Translation equations can be created at each Point, in 3 Measurement Axis directions.

Scalar Equations • Sound pressure level (SPL), sound power, temperature or pressure data are examples of Scalar

data. • A single Scalar equation can be created at each Point. • Scalar data is typically animated using color contours on a surface model.

Machine Rotations • Machine rotational data is measured from a rotating shaft. • Up to 3 Machine Rotation equations can be created at each Center Point, in 3 Measurement Axis

directions. • Machine rotational data is animated by displaying the rigid body rotation of all shaft Radial

Points about a shaft Center Point.

FEA Rotations • FEA modal shapes contain three Translational DOFs and three Rotational DOFs at each Point. • Up to 3 FEA Rotation equations can be created at each Point, in 3 Measurement Axis directions. • FEA Rotation equations are also used by the SDM and FEA Model Updating commands.

Each DOF (Point & direction) on a structure model has a Measured or Interpolated Animation Equation, or is Fixed;

Measured Equation


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• Each measured Point & direction on a structure model is animated by evaluating its Measured animation equation.

• See Animate | Create Animation Equations (Assign M#s) in the Data Block command reference chapter for details.

• Interpolated equations are created after Measured equations have been created.

Interpolated Equation • All un-measured Points & directions are animated with Interpolated animation equations. • Interpolated equations are created by executing Draw | Animation Equations | Create

Interpolated after the Measured equations have been created.

Fixed DOF • All fixed Points & directions have no Animation equation, and will not move during animation.

Draw | Animation Equations Menu

The commands in this menu are used to create Animation Equations. • Animation equations are used to display shapes in animation on a structure model. • All Animation equations are saved with the Structure file when it is saved to the disk.

Create Measured (Assign M#s)

Creates Measured animation equations for all (or selected) Points on the structure mode. • Measured Animation Equations are created by assigning the measurements (M#s) in the

connected Animation Source to Points & directions on the structure model.

NOTE: This command is the same as Animate | Create Animation Equations (Assign M#s) in a Data Block, Acquisition or Shape Table window.

• See Animate | Create Animation Equations (Assign M#s) in the Data Block command reference chapter for details.)

Create Interpolated

Creates Interpolated Animation equations for all (or selected) Points & directions that don't have Measured equations or Fixed DOFs.

• Interpolated equations are used to provide animation for all un-measured DOFs on the structure model.

• Each Interpolated equation is created in a Global direction (X, Y, Z) as a weighted summation of the M#s of neighboring Measured & Fixed DOFs in that direction.

• The weighted summation of M#s is based on the geometric distance of Measured or Fixed Points from the Interpolated Point.

When this command is executed, the dialog box shown below is opened.


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Each Point has one of the following types of Measurement Axes,

• Check the first, second, or third axis direction for creating Interpolated equations, and click on OK.

Measurement Axes Axes Symbols

Rectangular X, Y, Z

Cylindrical R (radial), T (tangential), Z (axial)

Spherical R (radial), T (tangential), P (elevation)


In dialog box above, you can specify the maximum number of nearest Measured and Fixed DOFs to be used to create each Interpolated equation.

• Enter a maximum number of nearest Measured and Fixed Points (1 to 10) to be used, and click on OK.

Interpolated to Measured


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Converts the Interpolated animation equations for all (or selected) Points to Measured equations. • Converting to Measured equations insures that they will always be used during animation,

whether or not Animate | With Interpolation is checked.

When this command is executed, the dialog box shown below is opened. • Four different type of equations can be converted; Translation, FEA Rotation, Scalar, and

Machine Rotation. • Select the Measurement Axes directions for converting Interpolated to Measured equations, and

click on OK.

Fix DOFs

Fixes directions of all (or selected) Points so that they will not move during animation. • Each Point has one of four types of Measurement Axes, each type having different Axis

Directions.

When this command is executed, the dialog box shown below is opened. • Select the Measurement Axes directions to be fixed , and click on OK.


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Fixed to Interpolated

Converts Fixed DOFs to Interpolated DOFs for all (or selected) Points.

When this command is executed, the dialog box shown below is opened. • Select the Measurement Axes directions for converting Fixed to Interpolated DOFs, and click on

OK.

Delete Equations

Deletes all of the Animation Equations for all (or selected) Points and changes their Equation Type to Interpolated.

When this command is executed, the dialog box shown below is opened.


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• Select the Measurement Axes directions for clearing all equations, and click on OK.

Examining the Animation Equations

• Execute Animation Equations | Equation Editor to display the Equation Editor tabs. • Select the Animation Equation tab. • Select a Point to display its Animation Equations.

Animation Equation Tab Showing Interpolated Equations.


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Show Equations

When this command is executed, a dialog box is opened giving a choice of the type of Animation equations to display.

Measured Equations If checked, Measured Equations are displayed at each selected Point.

• Translational or Rotational Measured Animation equations are indicated with Red Arrows.

Measured Animation equations are created by; • Executing Draw | Animation Equations | Create Measured (Assign M#s) in the Structure

window, • Or executing Animate | Create Animation Equations (Assign M#s) in one of the Animation

Source windows.

Measured DOFs Displayed on the Top Plate.

Interpolated Equations If checked, Interpolated Equations are displayed at each selected Point.

• Translational or Rotational Interpolated Animation equations are indicated with Blue Arrows. • Interpolated Animation equations are created by executing Draw | Animation Equations |

Create Interpolated.

Fixed DOFs If checked, Fixed DOFs are displayed at each selected Point.

• Translational or Rotational Fixed DOFs are indicated with Green Arrows. • Fixed DOFs are created by executing Draw | Animation Equations | Fixed DOFs.


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Fixed DOFs Displayed on the Antenna Base.

Select M#s

Selects the measurements (M#s) in the current Animation Source using the Animation equations of selected Points.

• When this command is executed, the current Animation Source window is opened, and the selected M#s are displayed in the Traces or DOFs spreadsheet.

Draw | Drawing Assistant

Displays the Drawing Assistant tabs above the SubStructures spreadsheet in the Structure window, as shown below.

With the Drawing Assistant, you can; • Choose a SubStructure from the SubStructure Library. • Create a new SubStructure starting with a editable Substructure (a line, plate, cube, circle,

cylinder, etc.) • Extrude or Revolve a 2D SubStructure to create a 3D SubStructure.


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Structure Window Showing Drawing Assistant Tabs.

SubStructure Tab

This tab contains a browser of the Substructures in the SubStructure Library. • Double click on a SubStructure in the Library browser to add it to the current model in the

Structure window.

NOTE: Execute File | Save in Library to add any structure model to the SubStructure Library.

Editable SubStructures

The Substructures with green surfaces at the top of the Library browser are called editable SubStructures.

• The dimensions and number of points in each direction can be changed on an editable SubStructure.

• Depending on its coordinate type, the dimensions of an editable SubStructure are; • Rectangular: Width, Height, Length. • Cylindrical: Radius, Tangential Angle, Length. • Spherical: Radius, Tangential Angle, Elevation Angle.

Dimensions Tab

The Length, Width, and Height dimensions of the selected SubStructure can be changed on this tab.

Position Tab


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• The selected SubStructure can be rotated about its Local or Global (X, Y, Z) axes using the controls on this tab.

• The Local origin of the selected SubStructure can also be translated with respect to the Global axes.

Extrude Tab

• The selected 2D SubStructure can be extruded into a 3D SubStructure using the controls on this tab.

Revolve Tab

• The selected 2D SubStructure can be revolved into a 3D SubStructure using the controls on this tab.

Draw | Points Menu

Points | Number Points

Used to graphically number the Points on a structure model. • Point Labels are used for Point numbering. • Point Labels can also be entered into the Points spreadsheet. • Point numbering is required before using the Match Structure and Source DOFs option in the

Draw | Animation Equations | Create Measured (Assign M#s) command dialog box.

When this command is executed, the Number Points dialog box is opened, as shown below. • Click near a Point to number it using the Next Point number in the dialog box. • Check the Clear box, and click near the Point to clear its Label. • Click on Clear All to clear all of the Point Labels. • Each time a Point is numbered, the Next Point number is incremented in the dialog box.

NOTE: The Next Point number can be edited at any time during Point numbering.


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3D View During Point Numbering.

Points | Sort Points by Label

Re-orders Points in the Points spreadsheet according to an ascending order of their Labels. Points are sorted in the following order;

1. Points with numbered Labels 2. Points with non-numeric Labels 3. Points with no Labels.

Points | Add Point To Line

Adds a new Point to a Line. The original Line is replaced with two new Lines. • Click near a Line to select it and add a Point to the selected Line. • To re-position the new Point along the Line, do not release the mouse button after the Point is

added. • Drag the new Point to its desired position along the Line before releasing the mouse button.

Points | Add Point To Surface

Adds a new Point to a Surface Triangle or Surface Quad. The original Surface is replaced with new Surfaces.

• Click near a Surface to select it and add a Point to the selected Surface. • To re-position the new Point on the Surface, do not release the mouse button after the Point is

added.


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• Drag the new Point to its desired position on the Surface before releasing the mouse button.

Points | Remove Duplicate Points

Removes all duplicate Points from the structure model.

When this command is executed, the following dialog box is opened; • Enter a distance tolerance for removing duplicate Points, and click on OK.

Points | Create Center Point

Creates a new Center Point• The new Center Point is added to the Points spreadsheet as a Bold Point.

at the geometric center of all selected Points or a selected SubStructure.

• The coordinates of the new Center Point are calculated as the average of the coordinates of all of the selected Points.

• If a SubStructure is selected, the coordinates of the new Center Point are calculated as the average of the coordinates of all of the Points referenced by the selected SubStructure.

When this command is executed, the following dialog box will open; • Click on Yes to add the new Point to the Center Point column in the Points spreadsheet for the

selected Points.

Draw | SubStructures Menu

SubStructures | Add Objects to SubStructure

Creates a new SubStructure• If Points are added to a SubStructure, all of the Objects that reference the Points as end Points

are also added to the SubStructure.

or adds selected Objects to an existing SubStructure.

• If Objects other than Points are added, the end Points referenced by the Objects are also added to the SubStructure.


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• If a SubStructure is selected, all of the Objects referenced by the SubStructure are added to the new SubStructure.

NOTE: A SubStructure only references other Objects. The referenced Objects still exist as unique Objects on the structure model.

When this command is executed, the following dialog box will open; • Choose an existing SubStructure, or click on New Substructure to create a new one. • Click on Add Objects.

SubStructures | Remove Objects from SubStructure

Removes selected Objects from a SubStructure

NOTE: If selected Objects are removed from a SubStructure, they are not removed from the structure model.

.

When this command is executed, the following dialog box will open; • Choose a SubStructure from which to remove the selected Objects, and click on Remove

Objects.


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SubStructures | Sort SubStructures by Label

Re-orders SubStructures in the SubStructures spreadsheet according to an ascending order of their Labels.

Draw | Resize Objects

Changes the size or shape of all selected Objects.

• Execute Edit | Resize Objects to enable the Resize operation. • Move the mouse pointer into the View where the Resize operation is to take place.

The mouse pointer will change to a Resize pointer when it enters a View. • Click & drag to re-size the selected Objects.

F2, F3, & F4 keys

During a Re-size operation, • Hold down the F2 key and drag to re-size only in the horizontal direction. • Hold down the F3 key and drag to re-size only in the vertical direction. • Hold down the F4 key and drag to re-size in both horizontal & vertical directions.

Re-sizing in the 3D View

• Click & drag the mouse pointer to the right to increase the size, or to the left to decrease the size.


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Changing the Size of a Cylindrical SubStructure.

Changing the Shape

The size of a selected Object will change in the direction that you drag the mouse pointer, thus changing its shape.

Changing the Shape of a Cylindrical Object.

Re-sizing Point Icons

• Select Points with Icons (see Points Spreadsheet) • Execute Edit | Resize Objects and click on Yes in the dialog box.


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Draw | Drag Objects

Changes the position of all selected Objects in a structure model by dragging them in a View.

• Execute Edit | Drag Selected Objects to enable the Drag operation. • Move the mouse pointer into the View where the Drag operation is to take place.

The mouse pointer will change to a drag pointer when it enters a View. • Click & drag the selected Objects in the View.

F2, F3 & F4 keys

During a Drag operation, • Hold down the F2 key to drag the selected Objects in the horizontal direction only. • Hold down the F3 key to drag the selected Objects in the vertical direction only. • Hold down the F4 key to drag the selected Objects on a diagonal line in the View.

Draw | Rotate Objects

Rotates all selected Objects about the global (X, Y, Z) axes.

When this command s executed, the following dialog box will open. • Enter the Rotational Increment in degrees. • Click on the Up/Down Arrows next to the axis about which rotation is desired. • Press the Close button.

NOTE: When Objects are rotated, their coordinates in the Points spreadsheet are changed.

Rotate Selected Objects Dialog Box.

Rotating Point Icons

• Select Points with Icons (see Points Spreadsheet) • Execute Edit | Rotate Selected Objects and check Rotate Point Icons in the dialog box.

Draw | Mesh Objects Menu

The commands in this menu are used to mesh (subdivide) all (or selected) Objects on a structure model.


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• All original Objects are replaced by new Objects of the same type.

The following types of Objects can be meshed, • Line Objects: Lines (and FEA Springs, Dampers, Rods, and Bars). • Triangle Objects: Surface Triangles (and FEA Plates). • Quad Objects: Quad Surfaces (and FEA Quad Plates). • SubStructures: All Line, Triangle, and Quad Objects referenced by a SubStructure.

Creation of Animation Equations

NOTE: A stick or surface mode with more meshed Points is better for superimposing a more complex surface or photo model, and then using Interpolation to animate the complex model from the stick model.

If all of the Points referenced by the Objects to be meshed already have Animation equations, then Animation equations are automatically created for all of the new mesh Points. This capability allows you to start with a simple stick or surface model with only Measurement Points on it, create Animation equations for the Measurement Points, and then mesh the model to add more Points with Animation equations. If Animation equations will be created during meshing, the following dialog will open.

Mesh All Edges

Subdivides the edges of the selected Objects using a number of evenly spaced midpoints. • Meshing a Line Object divides it into equal segments. • Meshing a Triangle or Quad Object evenly subdivides each of its edges.

When this command is executed, the following dialog box will open. The number of midpoints is the number of Points that will be added between the endpoints of each Line Object or Surface Object edge.

• Enter the number of midpoints, and click on OK.

Mesh Longest Edges


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Meshes the edges of the selected Objects so that no edge is longer than half of the longest edge found among all of the Objects.

Before Meshing Longest Edges.

After Meshing Longest Edges.

Meshing Substructures

NOTE: To ensure that all Line and Surface Objects are properly meshed together, it is better to create a new SubStructure with all Line and Surface Objects in it, and mesh the SubStructure.

• Select all of the Points being referenced by the Objects to be meshed. • Execute Draw | SubStructure | Add Objects to SubStructure. • Click on New SubStructure in the dialog box that opens, and click on Add Objects. • Select the new SubStructure and mesh it.


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Animate Menu

The Structure window is always either in the Draw state or the Animate state. • In the Draw state, the Draw menu is enabled. • In the Animate state, the Animate menu is enabled.

Draw or Animate | Draw Structure

Terminates animation and returns the Structure window to the Draw state.

Draw or Animate | Animate Shapes

Initiates animation using shapes from a single Animation Source

The current Animation Source (Data Block, Shape Table, or Acquisition window) is displayed in the

Animation Source list

.

on the Structure window Toolbar.

NOTE: Animation can also be initiated by executing Tools | Animate Shapes from any Data Block, Shape Table, or Acquisition window.

Requirements for Animation

1. The structure model must have Animation equations at one or more Points. 2. An Animation Source (Data Block, Shape Table or Acquisition window) must be open in the

Work Area.

Animation from a Data Block or Acquisition Window

If the Animation Source is a Data Block or Acquisition window, animation depends on which Animate |

Method command is checked; • If Animate | Method | Sweep is checked, the cursor is swept through the Data Block or

Acquisition window, and the Trace values (M#s) at the cursor position are displayed as the shape.

• If Animate | Method | Sine Dwell is checked, the Trace values at the cursor position are modulated by sine wave values (ranging between -1 & +1) to give the shape a sinusoidal motion.

• If Animate | Method | Stationary Dwell is checked, the Trace values at the cursor position are displayed as the shape without modulation.

Animation from a Shape Table

If the Animation Source is a Shape Table, animation depends on which Animate | Method command

is checked; • If Animate | Method | Sweep is checked, each shape in displayed in Sine Dwell animation,

followed by the next shape in the Shape Table. • After the last shape is animated, animation continues using the first shape. • If Animate | Method | Sine Dwell is checked, the selected Shape DOFs (M#s) are modulated

by sine wave values (ranging between -1 & +1) to give the shape a sinusoidal motion.


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• If Animate | Method | Stationary Dwell is checked, the selected Shape DOFs (M#s) are displayed without modulation.

Which Shape Data is Displayed?

The shape data that is displayed during animation depends upon which data is displayed in the Animation Source.

• If Display | Real is checked, only the Real part of the Trace or Shape DOF data is animated on the structure model.

• If Display | Imaginary is checked, only the Imaginary part of the Trace or Shape DOF data is animated on the model.

• Otherwise complex (Magnitude & Phase) shape data is animated.

Changing the Animation Source

• Click on any Data Block, Shape Table or Acquisition window to make it the current Animation Source.

• Or choose a Data Block, Shape Table or Acquisition window from the Animation Source List to make it the current Animation Source.

• See the Tools | Create Animation Equations (Assign M#s) command description in the Data Block commands chapter for details.

Selected M#s

NOTE: If M#s are selected, then only shape data for the selected M#s is displayed in animation.

• Execute one of the Edit | Select Traces commands in a Data Block or Acquisition window to select Traces (M#s).

• Execute one of the Edit | Select DOFs commands in a Shape Table window to select shape DOFs (M#s).

Draw or Animate | Compare Shapes

Displays shapes from two Animation Sources together in animation. • Only enabled when two or more Animation Source• Use the Comparison Scroll Bar for moving the two structure models closer together or farther

apart.

windows are open.


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Comparison Animation With Sources Arranged on Right.

Arranging Windows During Animation

The Comparison Source positions are controlled from the Animation tab in the File | Structure Options dialog box.

• Check Sources Below Structure window to display the two Animation Source windows below the Structure window.

• Check Sources Right of Structure window to display the two Animation Source windows to the right of the Structure window.

Animate | Show Animation Source

Displays the current Animation Source• The current Animation Source is displayed in the Animation Source List on the Structure

window Toolbar.

window.

• The Show Animation Source tool is displayed next to the Animation Source List.


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Animation Source List and Show Source Tool.

Animate | Show Comparison Source

Displays the current Comparison Source window. • The current Comparison Source is listed in the Comparison Source List on the Structure

window Toolbar, as shown below. • The Show Comparison Source tool is displayed next to the Comparison Source List.


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Comparison Source List and Show Comparison Source Tool.

Animating From Multiple Source Files

NOTE: If the M#s in two or more Animation Sources correspond to measurements at the same DOFs on a structure model, animation can be switched from one Animation Source to another.

• Click anywhere on a Data Block or Acquisition window to animate its shape data. • Click on a Shape button in a Shape Table window to animate its shape data. • Or choose a different Source from the Animation Source List on the Structure window Toolbar.

Displaying Shape Values

When animation is paused, shape values can be displayed next to each selected Point. • Execute Animate | Step | Stop/Continue to pause the animation. • Hold down the Ctrl key, and click near a Point to toggle the display of its shape values. • Hold down the Ctrl key, and right click to clear the display of all shape values.

Using the Ctrl key to Display Shape Values During Animation.

Animate | Method Menu


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The commands in this menu change the animation method between Sweep, Sine Dwell & Stationary Dwell.

Sweep

Initiates Sweep animation using data from the current Animation Source.

Data Block or Acquisition • Sweep animation is achieved by sweeping the currently displayed cursor through the Traces. • The Trace values at the current cursor location are displayed as the shape. • See Tools | Animate Shapes in the Data Block Commands chapter for details

Shape Table • Sweep animation is achieved by displaying each shape for one or more cycles of Sine Dwell

animation. • See Tools | Animate Shapes in the Shape Table Commands chapter for details

Sine Dwell

Initiates Sine Dwell animation using data from the current Animation Source. • During animation, the shape is modulated by multiplying each shape component by a different

sinusoidal value (between -1 & +1).

Data Block or Acquisition • Drag the cursor to a desired location to display the shape at the current cursor location.

Shape Table • Click on a Select Shape button to display that shape.

Stationary Dwell

Initiates Stationary Dwell animation using data from the current Animation Source. • Same as Sine Dwell, but shapes are not modulated with sinusoidal values.

Data Block or Acquisition • Press the Left or Right Arrow key on the keyboard to change the cursor location on the Traces.

Shape Table • Press the Left or Right Arrow key to display the next or previous shape.

Animate | With Interpolation

Enables evaluation of the Interpolated equations during animation. • If checked, shape values for all Interpolated DOFs on the structure model are animated using the

Interpolated Animation Equations• If not checked, only the Measured equations are used for animation.

at each Point.


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Animation with Interpolation Disabled.

Animation with Interpolation Enabled.

Animate | Speed Menu

• Click on the turtle of the rabbit on the Toolbar to decrease or increase the animation speed.

Data Block Sweep Speed

During Sweep animation, the animation speed is controlled by how many samples of Trace data are skipped or interpolated.

• For a speed of 1, every sample of Trace data is displayed during a sweep.


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• For a speed greater than 1, samples of Trace data are skipped over. • For a speed of 2, every other sample is displayed, for a speed of 3, every third sample is

displayed, and so on. • For a speed less than 1, shape values are calculated using linear interpolation between

adjacent samples of Trace data. • For a speed of 0.5, one interpolated value is calculated between adjacent samples, for a speed of

0.33, two interpolated values are calculated between adjacent samples, and so on.

Sine Dwell Speeds

During Sine Dwell animation, the animation speed is controlled by using a different number of sine values per cycle of animation.

• For a speed of 4, four sine values per cycle is used. • For a speed of (N>4), N sine values per cycle are used.

Speed Settings

• If Settings is checking on the Labels tab in the File | Options box, the animation speed is displayed in the Settings box during animation.

Animate | Amplitude Menu

These commands are used to change the amplitude of shape animation.

Increase Amplitude

• Click on to increase the amplitude of animation.

Decrease Amplitude

• Click on to decrease the amplitude of animation.

Amplitude

• Click on to enter a specific animation amplitude into a dialog box.

Animation amplitude is also used in conjunction with Animate | Scale Shapes | Fixed Scale to fix the amplitude of animation.

• See Animate | Scale Shapes | Fixed Scale for details.


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Settings box

• If Settings is checking on the Labels tab in File | Options, the animation speed is displayed in the Settings box during animation.

Animate | Step Menu

These commands are used to pause and resume the animation, and to step through the animation frames.

Stop/Continue

If checked, animation is paused. • When the animation is paused, the current animation frame is displayed, and the Next Frame

and Previous Frame commands are enabled. • If un-checked, animation is resumed.

Next Frame

• Press the Right Arrow to display the next animation Frame.

Previous Frame

• Press the Left Arrow to display the previous animation Frame.

Animate | Deformation Menu

Deformed

If checked, the deformed structure is displayed during animation.

Undeformed

If checked, the un-deformed structure is displayed during animation.

X direction

If checked, shape values in the Global X direction are displayed.

Y direction

If checked, shape values in the Global Y direction are displayed.

Z direction

If checked, shape values in the Global Z direction are displayed.

Arrows

If checked, Arrows are used to show Deformations during animation.


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• To display arrows, either Arrows or Both must be selected in the Deformation column in either the Points or SubStructures spreadsheet.

• Arrow colors are the same as the Point colors.

Animation with Arrows and Deformed Enabled.

Persistence

If checked, animation frames are displayed with persistence. • Execute Animate | Step | Stop/Continue to refresh the persistence display.

Animation with Persistence.


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Orbits

If checked, complex shape data is displayed as an orbit at each Point.

Animate Using Menu

Groups

If checked, animates data from different Groups together on the same structure model. • Uses the names in the Group column in the Data Block Traces or Shape Table DOFs

spreadsheet to scale the shape data. • Each Group is scaled for animation using shape values with the same Group name.

For example, • Group "Acoustic Power" with values in the range (+100, -100) will be scaled separately from

Group "Vibration" with values in the range (+10,000, -10,000). • If there are no names in the Group column, then all M#s are scaled as a single group.

Entering Group Names in a Data Block

• Execute Edit | Select Traces | By, choose Data Type and select all of the Traces with one Data Type.

• Double click on the Group column in the Traces spreadsheet. • Enter the Group name into the dialog box, and click on OK.

Animate Compare Shapes Menu

Flip Sign

Multiplies the right hand (Comparison) shape by "-1" during Comparison Animation. • If two similar shapes appear to be animating 180 degrees out of phase with one another, the

phases of one shape can be changed by 180 degrees so that the two shapes animate more closely together.

Flipping the Sign In a Complexity Plot

• If the Animation Sources contain complex shapes, flipping the sign of the Comparison shapes may not align them.

• The Complexity Plot gives more control over the signs of shapes from an Animation Source;

During Comparison animation, • Execute Display | Complexity Plot in the Animation Source window to open its Complexity Plot. • Execute Display | Shape Normalized in the Complexity Plot window. • Rotate the normalization line on the Complexity Plot by clicking & dragging it to flip the phase

of the normalized shape.

Synchronize Frequency

Displays two shapes that are closest in frequency (or time) to one another.


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• When the shape from one Animation Source is selected, the shape with the closest frequency (or time) in the other Animation Source is displayed.

Shape Difference

If checked, the Right Hand (Comparison) shape is replaced with the difference between the Right & Left Hand shapes during Comparison Animation.

• The Animate | Amplitude commands only change the amplitude of animation of the Right hand Shape Difference.

Animate | Contours Menu

The commands in this menu display shape contour colors and Node Lines during shape animation. • A contour is a locus of equal values of the currently displayed shape. • Contours are displayed as Fill Colors on surfaces. • Contour colors are chosen on the Contour Colors Tab in the File | Options dialog box of the

current Animation source. • The number of colors chosen determines how many different contour Fill levels will be displayed.

Node Lines

If checked, Node Lines are displayed during shape animation. Node Lines are displayed as heavy black lines where the shape values are zero.

Normal Versus Complex Shapes

A shape can be displayed in animation either as normal or a complex shape.

Normal Shape • All of its shape components have 0 or 180 degrees of phase. • Looks like a standing wave during animation, and its Node Lines will not move.

Complex Shape • Can have arbitrary phases in its shape components. • Looks like a traveling wave during animation, and its Node Lines will move. • Can be normalized by executing Animate | Shapes | Normalized.


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Animation With Node Lines Displayed.

Contour Colors

If checked, shape values are displayed using contour colors on the Surfaces.

NOTE: Contour colors are based on the magnitudes of the shape values.

• Contours are only displayed on Surfaces. • The data type to be displayed with contours is specified in the Contours Data Type column of

the SubStructures, or Surfaces spreadsheets.

Point Icons

If checked, displays shape data using color contours on Point Icons.

Color Key

If checked, contour values are displayed on a color key in all Views.

NOTE: This command is only enabled if the Contours Colors command is checked.


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Animation With Contour Colors and Color Key Displayed.

Surface Normal Contours

When enabled, the surface normals are used to determine whether a shape value is "above" or "below" the surface. If the dot product of the shape value with the surface normal is positive, the shape value is above the surface. Otherwise, it is below the surface.

When this command is disabled, the contour colors are determined based on the magnitude of the shape values.

Animate | Shapes Menu

Save Shape

Saves the currently displayed shape into a Shape Table.

Normalized

Enables shape normalization of all displayed shapes. See Display | Complexity Plot in the Multi-Reference Modal Commands chapter for more details.

Auto Scaling

Enables Auto scaling of the animated shapes • When Auto scaling is enabled, each shape component is divided by the maximum component

of the shape. • When Dwell animation is initiated, Auto Scaling is automatically enabled unless Fixed Scaling

is enabled.


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Relative Scaling

Enables Relative scaling of the animated shapes • When Relative scaling is enabled, each shape is divided by the maximum shape component of

all data in the current Animation Source. • When Sweep animation is initiated, Relative scaling is automatically enabled unless Fixed

scaling is enabled.

Fixed Scaling

Enables Fixed scaling of the animated shapes • When Fixed scaling is enabled, each shape is scaled using a user-defined fixed scale factor. • When this command is executed, a dialog box is opened.

Fixed Scale Example

If an animating structure model has the following values; The largest structure coordinate = 100 Length Units. The Animation Amplitude = 1. The largest shape component (M# value) = 10.

To fix the maximum amplitude of an animated shape so that it is 20% of the largest structure coordinate. Shape Amplitude = 0.20 x 100 = (Fixed Scale Factor) x (1) x (10)

Therefore: Fixed Scale Factor = 20/10 = 2.

Relative To Left Shape

If checked during Comparison animation, the right-hand (comparison) shape is scaled relative to the left-hand (baseline) shape.

Movie Menu

The commands in this menu are used to create Digital Movies of the animation in the Structure window. • Movies are made by saving animation frames into a Microsoft WMV file. • See the Movies tab in the File | Options section for details on Movie Quality and Frames per

Second.


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Make Structure Movie

Makes a Movie of the current animation in the Structure window. When this command is executed, • The Windows File Save dialog box will open, requiring you to choose a name and place to save

the movie file on disk. • Next, the Make Movie dialog box will open, as shown below.

Use Window Width and Height • If checked, the movies will be the size of the graphics area. • If un-checked the Width and Height

Stop After Full Cycles of Animation

can be entered into their respective boxes.

• If checked, movie making will stop after (N) animation cycles are completed. • Enter the number of cycles (N) into the box on the same line.

Restart Dwell Cycle • If checked, movie making will start at the beginning of the animation dwell cycle.

NOTE: While a movie is being made, you can change the 3D View Rotation, Zoom, Pan, display Points, Lines, Surfaces, etc.

• Press the Start button to start making a movie. • Press the Stop button to finish making the movie, and open it in the Windows Media player.

Make Movie Dialog Box.


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Digital Movie in Windows Media Player.

Make Work Area Movie

Makes a Digital Movie using all of the graphics in the Work Area.

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Data Block Window Commands

Data Block Window showing several FRF

magnitudes .

This chapter contains descriptions of the basic commands in the Data Block window.

NOTE: Additional Data Block commands are documented in the Command Reference chapters for certain ME'scopeVES Options.

The Data Block window is used for; • Displaying multiple sampled time waveforms or frequency domain measurements, and

performing operations on them. • Displaying Operating Deflection Shape (ODS) data at the cursor position in the measurements

on a 3D model in a connected Structure window. • Curve fitting the measurements to obtain the experimental modal parameters of a structure,

Graphics Area & Traces Spreadsheet

The Data Block window contains graphics on the left and a Traces spreadsheet on the right, separated by a vertical blue splitter bar.

• Drag the vertical blue splitter bar horizontally in the window to make the Trace graphics or the Traces spreadsheet larger.


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• Each measurement in a Data Block is called a Trace. • Each Trace in a Data Block is plotted in the graphics area on the left. • The properties of each Trace are listed in a row of the Traces spreadsheet on the right.

Menu Commands




Data Block Mouse & Keyboard Operations


Right Click Menus

• Right click on a spreadsheet to display a menu of frequently used spreadsheet commands. • Right click on the graphics area to display a menu of frequently used window commands.

-Ordering Spreadsheet Columns






Scrolling the Traces Display

• Click on the vertical scroll bar to the right of the graphics area, and spin the mouse wheel. • Following a Zoom operation, click on the horizontal scroll bar and spin the mouse wheel.

Zooming

• Click in the Trace graphics area and spin the mouse wheel.

Panning a Zoomed Display

• Hold down the Shift key, and click & drag to Pan the display of zoomed Trace data. • Or use the horizontal scroll bar displayed below the Traces.


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Moving the Cursors

Line Cursor • Position the mouse pointer in the Trace graphics area, and click or click & drag.

Peak or Band Cursor • Position the mouse pointer inside the band, and click & drag.

Moving an Edge of the Peak or Band Cursor • Position the mouse pointer outside the band, and click & drag.

Selecting a Range of Traces

• Click on a Select Trace button in the Traces spreadsheet of the first Trace to be selected. • Hold down the Shift key and click on the Select Trace button of the last Trace of the range of

Traces to be selected.

Toggle Trace Selection

• Hold down the Ctrl key and click in the Trace graphics area to toggle the selection of a Trace.

NOTE: A selected Trace has a shaded background in the graphics area, and its Select Trace (M#) button has a green background.

Trace Values

• Hold down the Alt key to display Trace values at the nearest sample to the mouse pointer. • Left click to display the values permanently. • Right click to erase all permanent values.



cells.

Graphics Scroll Bars

Under certain conditions, both vertical & horizontal scroll bars will be displayed on the right side and below the graphics area in a Data Block window.

Vertical Scroll Bar

If the number of displayed Traces is less than the total number of Traces, a scroll bar is displayed on the right side of the Trace graphics area.

• Click & drag the scroll bar to scroll the display through the Traces.

Horizontal Scroll Bar


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When the Trace display is Zoomed, not all of the Trace samples are displayed, and a scroll bar is displayed below the Trace graphics area.

• Click & drag the scroll bar to scroll through the Trace samples. • Or hold down the Shift key and drag in the graphics area to scroll through the Trace samples.

Traces Spreadsheet

The Traces spreadsheet contains all of the properties associated with each Trace in the Data Block file. • Each row contains all properties of a single Trace. • Each column contains a single property for all Traces.

NOTE: Some of the columns in the Traces spreadsheet are only enabled when certain Options are authorized in your software.

• Drag the Vertical Blue Splitter Bar to the left to display the Traces spreadsheet. • Or execute Display | Spreadsheet.

If the Traces spreadsheet contains more rows & columns than are currently displayed, scroll bars will appear on the bottom and right side of the spreadsheet.

Data Block Window Showing Traces Spreadsheet.


• Right click on the spreadsheet and execute Show/Hide Columns from the menu.

The File | Data Block Options box will open displaying the Show/Hide tab. • Check columns to show them, and Un-check columns to hide them.


• Right click on the spreadsheet and execute Reset Column Widths from the menu.

The File | Data Block Options box will open displaying the Show/Hide tab.


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• Click on the Reset Column Widths button.

Unique Measurement Numbers (M#s)

• Each Trace has a unique M#, listed in the Select Trace column in the Traces spreadsheet. • M#s are used in the Animation equations in a connected Structure window to retrieve Trace data

for displaying shapes in animation.

Selecting Traces

NOTE: A selected Trace has a shaded background in the graphics area, and its Select Trace (M#) button has a green background.

Selecting Traces in the Traces spreadsheet • Right click on the spreadsheet and choose one of the Edit | Select Traces commands from the

menu. • Double click on the Select Traces column heading to select or un-select all Traces. • Click on the Select Trace button for a Trace in the Traces spreadsheet.

Selecting Traces in the Graphics Area • Hold down the Ctrl key and click in the Trace graphics area to toggle the selection of a Trace. • Right click on the graphics area, and execute one of the Edit | Select Traces commands from

the menu.

Changing Trace Properties

• Click on a property cell in the Traces spreadsheet, and edit the property of a single Trace.

Changing the Property of All (or selected) Traces: • Double click on the column heading of the property to be changed. A dialog box will open. • Choose or enter the property value and click on OK.

Visible Column

Shows or Hides each Trace.

NOTE: Hidden Traces are not displayed, and are excluded from all Data Block calculations.

Measurement Type Column

Contains the Measurement Type of each Trace. • Click on a cell in this column to display a list of available Measurement Type choices.

DOFs Column

Contains the DOFs of each Trace. • A DOF is typically the Point number and measurement direction of the transducer at a location

on the test article. • Each DOF is either a Roving DOF (moving transducer) or a Reference DOF (fixed

transducer).


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Single Channel Measurement • Each single channel measurement (Auto correlation, Auto spectrum) as only a Roving DOF. • For example, If a transducer is located at Point 1 in sensing in the X direction, it's DOF is 1X.

Cross Channel Measurement • A cross channel measurement (FRF or Cross spectrum), has both Roving and Reference DOFs,

separated by a colon (:). • Roving Impact Test: If an FRF was measured by impacting at DOF = 1X and a (fixed)

accelerometer has DOF = 2Z, then the FRF DOF is 1X : 2Z. • Shaker Test: If an FRF was measured with a shaker located at DOF = 1X and a (roving)

accelerometer has DOF = 2Z, then the FRF DOF is 2Z : 1X.

Using the DOF Generator • Double click on the DOFs column header to open the DOF Generator for creating DOFs. • (See Using the DOF Generator section in this chapter for details on using the DOF Generator.)

Units Column

Contains the transducer engineering units of each Trace. • Typical input units are excitation force units. • Typical output units are displacement, velocity, or acceleration response units. • FRF units are (response units / force units). • Transmissibility• Cross spectrum units are (response units)^2 or (response units * force units).

units are (Roving response units / Reference response units).

• ODS FRF units are (Roving response units * Reference response units).

Color Column

Contains the line color of each Trace. • All Traces are displayed using the Trace color, except in the Contour Map format.

To color all (or selected) Traces using either a Single Color or the colors in the Contour Colors tab in the File | Data Block Options box,

• Double click on the Color column header. The following dialog box will open. • Select either a Single Color or Use Contour Colors, and click on OK.

Sound Column


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Plays the sound of the Trace through the sound system on your computer. • If the Band Cursor is displayed, then only the Trace samples in the cursor band are played

through the sound system. • If the selected Trace is a frequency domain Trace, it is Inverse FFT'd before playing it through

the sound system.

Label Column

Contains a text description of each Trace.

Data Type Column

Contains the Data Type of each Trace. • Click on a cell in this column to display a list of available Data Type choices.

Scale Method, Minimum Scale, & Maximum Scale Columns

Contains the scaling method used to display each Trace

Auto Scale • Displays each Trace with its maximum value near the top of the Trace graphics display.

Relative Scale • Displays each Trace relative to the maximum value of all of the Traces in the Data Block.

Fixed Scale • Displays each Trace between user-specified Minimum & Maximum values.

Format | Vertical Axis • Auto, Relative or Fixed scales can also be chosen for all (or selected) Traces in this dialog box.

Date/Time Column

Contains a text date & time of the acquisition or calculation of each Trace.

Group Column

Groups are used for scaling different types of shape data (such as vibration and acoustic data), so that both can be displayed together in animation.

• If no names are entered in this column, all M#s are treated as a single Group. (See Tools | Animate Using | Groups for details.)

• For shape animation, contour colors can be defined for each Group. (See the Color Contours tab under the File | Data Block Options command for details.)

Using the DOF Generator

Used to create Trace DOFs for all (or selected) Traces.

NOTE: Trace DOFs are optional. They are used by certain MIMO commands, and for creating Animation equations by matching Trace DOFs to Points & directions of a structure model.


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• Trace DOFs are displayed in the DOFs column of the Traces spreadsheet. • Double click on the DOFs column heading to open the DOF Generator dialog box.

DOF Generator Dialog Box.

Each Trace DOF has the format; Roving DOF : Reference DOF [Measurement Set]. • For vibration or acoustic intensity data, a DOF consists of a Point number and a direction of

measurement. • For scalar data (temperature, pressure, voltage, current) a DOF consists only of a Point number. • The Roving DOF precedes the colon ":" and the Reference DOF follows the colon ":". • The Measurement Set number is enclosed in brackets [ ].

NOTE: Measurement Set numbers are used to designate all measurements that were calculated from data that was simultaneously acquired.

Measurement directions depend on the type of Measurement Axes used. The notations shown in the Table below are used.

Measurement Axes Direction Symbols

Rectangular X, Y, Z

Cylindrical R (radial), T (theta angle), Z (axial)

Spherical R (radial), T (theta angle), P (phi angle)



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Single Channel DOFs

Single channel measurements (e.g. Auto spectrum, PSD) only require a Roving DOF. To generate single channel DOFs using the DOF Generator,

• Choose Measurement Axes (Rectangular, Cylindrical, Spherical or Machine). • Choose Replace With. • Check Roving DOF, un-check Reference DOF, un-check Measurement Set. • Enter a Point number & Direction in the Start boxes under Roving DOF. • Check Increment under the Roving DOF. • If the Data Type is Translation or Rotational, enter a Point number & direction in the Increment

boxes under Roving DOF. • If the Data Type is Scalar, enter a Point number in the Increment box under Roving DOF. • If the DOF list doesn't contain the correct sequence of directions, type in the desired sequence. • Enter the number of M#’s after which the Roving DOF is to be incremented. For example, if you

enter 10, the same Roving DOF will be given to the first 10 M#’s. • Click on OK to generate new DOFs.

Cross Channel DOFs

Cross-channel measurements (e.g. FRF or Cross Spectrum) have both a Roving DOF and a Reference DOF. To generate cross channel DOFs,

• Choose Measurement Axes (Rectangular, Cylindrical, Spherical or Machine). • Choose Replace With. • Check Roving DOF, check Reference DOF, un-check Measurement Set. • Setup both the Roving DOF and Reference DOF sections as described above. • Click on OK to generate new DOFs.

Add To DOFs

Retains a portion of each existing Trace DOF, and either replaces or adds to each DOF.

Roving Impact Test

If your measurements were acquired using a roving impact hammer, • Each Roving DOF should be a hammer impact Point & direction. • The Reference DOF should be the fixed accelerometer DOF.

Swap DOFs

If your Trace DOFs have a fixed Roving DOF and variable Reference DOFs, • Choose Swap in the DOF Generator, and click on OK.

Delete DOFs

Deletes the DOFs of all (or selected) Traces.


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File | Save Data Block

Saves the Data Block file into the current Project file on disk.

File | Save Data Block As...

Saves a copy of the Data Block file with a new name into the current Project file on disk.

File | Save Graphics in a File

Saves the Trace graphics area in the Data Block window into a file on disk.

NOTE: Graphics files can be saved in the JPG, GIF, PNG or BMP file formats.

File | Export Data Block

Exports the Trace data in the Data Block window to a disk file in an external file format. When this command is executed, the Windows File Save As dialog box is opened,

• Choose an export file format from the Save as type list. • Choose a disk folder for saving the file, or create a new one. • Type the desired file name into the File name box. • Click on the Save button.

Data Block File Export Dialog Box.

UFF File Export


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The table below shows the Data Set Types that are created when a Data Block is exported to a disk file in UFF format.

ME'scopeVES File Type of Data UFF Data Type

Structure (STR) Structure Points and Lines

15 & 82

Shape Table (SHP) Shapes 55

Data Block (BLK) Time Waveforms, FRFs,

Transmissibility's, Auto & Cross

Spectra, Fourier Spectra.

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Importing a Data Block Spreadsheet File

• A Data Block Spreadsheet file contains columns of text separated by delimiters such as commas or tab characters.

• It is strongly recommended that you use the Data Block Spreadsheet format (.TXT) as a text file template. (See instructions below.)

Column Format

In a Data Block Spreadsheet file, each column (or pair of columns) is assumed to contain samples of data for a single measurement function (time waveform, Auto spectrum, etc..

• A single column is used for real data, two columns for complex data.

Header Format

NOTE: The header is optional. If there is no header, each column of data is assumed to be a real valued time waveform measurement, and all other header information is set to default values.

A Data Block Spreadsheet file can also contain a file header which consists of, • A Keyword followed by a Value • A Value is separated from its Keyword by the same delimiter used to separate data values in the

spreadsheet columns. • Keywords and example Values are listed in the Table below.

Keyword Value Description

Measurement Type Time Waveform, Fourier Spectrum, Auto & Cross Spectrum, Auto & Cross Correlation, PSD, FRF, Coherence, IRF.

Default: Time Waveform for time domain, Linear Spectrum for frequency domain.


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Time Domain: each column is a Trace.

Frequency Domain: each pair of columns is a Trace.

Label Any text Data Block description.

X Axis Spacing Uniform, Non-uniform, No X Data.

No X Data: Defaults (Uniform Spacing, X Start = 0, X Step = 1)

Uniform, Non-uniform: first column is X Axis values.

X Axis Units Any text X axis time or frequency units.

Y Axis Type Magnitude, Real/Imaginary

For complex data only. Magnitude denotes magnitude & phase, Real/Imaginary denotes real & imaginary data.

Measurement Label Any text measurement label

Y Axis Units formatted text (output units) / or * (input units). Examples: Gs, Gs/N, Gs*Gs.

Y Axis DOFs formatted text Roving DOF

Remark

: Reference DOF [Meas. Set]. Examples: 1Z, 1Z:3Z, 1Z:3Z [1].

Any text Not read Keywords &Fields of an ASCII Text Data Block (.TXT) file.

Creating a (.TXT) File Template

The best way to put measurement data into a (.TXT) file format is to start with a Data Block file template, and add your data to it using a spreadsheet or text program To create a (.TXT) file template, start with any Data Block file in ME'scopeVES.

• Use a time domain Data Block file if you want to import time domain measurements, or a frequency domain Data Block file if you want to import frequency domain measurements.

• Open the binary Data Block (BLK) file from disk. (Use any BLK file, from any Demos Project.) • Execute File | Export and save the file in (.TXT) format.

Adding Your Data to the Template

• Open the (.TXT) file in a spreadsheet program like Microsoft Excel or a word processor like Microsoft Word.

• Replace the Trace data into the spreadsheet columns with your measurement data.


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• Edit the other information where applicable, and save the file to disk.

NOTE: Make sure that the (.TXT) file is no longer open in the spreadsheet or word processor program before importing it into ME'scopeVES.

Importing the (.TXT) File

• Execute File | Import | Data Block in the ME'scopeVES window and import the (.TXT) File.


Copy Trace Graphics

Copies the current Trace graphics area to the Windows Clipboard.

Copy Traces Spreadsheet

Copies the Traces spreadsheet to the Windows Clipboard.

Copy Trace Data

Copies the Trace data values to the Windows Clipboard in the Data Block Spreadsheet format. (See Importing a Data Block in Spreadsheet Format for details.)

Editing Trace Data

The Data Block text spreadsheet (.TXT) file format can be used together with a text program (like MS Word) or spreadsheet program (like MS Excel) to edit Trace data.

To edit one or more Traces, • Open the Data Block file containing the Trace data that requires editing. • Select the Traces that require editing.

• If editing frequency domain data, display the CoQuad format to edit the Real & Imaginary parts, or the Bode format to edit the Magnitudes & Phases.

Exporting the Trace Data

• Execute File | Export, and save the data in Data Block ASCII text (.TXT) file format to a disk file. • Open the Data Block ASCII text (.TXT) file in a word processor or spreadsheet program. (See

Importing a Data Block in Spreadsheet Format for details.) • Edit the Trace samples as required. • Save the file.

Importing the Edited Trace Data

• Execute File | Import in the ME'scopeVES window. • Select All Files in the File of type drop down list, and open the file. A new Data Block window

will open with the edited Trace data in it. • Make sure the unedited Traces are still selected in the original Data Block window. • Execute Edit | Delete Selected Traces and delete the unedited Traces.


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• Execute Edit | Paste Traces from File. A dialog box will open. • Choose the new Data Block containing the edited Traces, and click on the Paste button.

File | Print Menu


File | Print | Graphics Prints the current Trace graphics area to the Windows printer.

File | Print | Traces Spreadsheet Prints the Traces spreadsheet to the Windows printer.

File | Data Block Properties

Opens the Data Block Properties dialog box, wherein you can edit several Data Block file properties. • Editing the Data Block Label does not change the Trace data. • Editing the Block Size changes the number of Trace samples for all Traces. • Editing the Starting, Increment and Ending values does not change the Trace data. (Editing

these parameters only affects the X-Axis.) • If a non-zero Machine Speed is entered, the X-Axis values are displayed as machine Orders

(multiples of the machine speed). • See Format | X-Axis for details.

Data Block Properties Box.


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File | Data Block Options

Opens the Data Block Options box.

NOTE: Many options take effect in the Data Block window as soon as they are chosen in the Data Block Options box.

Data Block Options Dialog Box.

Display Tab

Changes the following Data Block window properties • Window, Borders, Grids, Background, Text & Fill colors. • Data Block cursor Dot Size.

Contour Colors Tab

Used to define contour colors. Contour colors are used by the following commands; • Display | Fill Under Graph | Contour Colors. • Format | Contour Map. • Animate | Contours Menu commands in a connected Structure window during animation. • Curve Fitting: Stable pole groups on a Stability diagram.

Contours for Each Animation Group

Animation Groups are defined by entering names into the Animation Groups column of the Traces spreadsheet.


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• If Animation Groups are defined in the Data Block, then different contour colors can be defined for each Animation Group.

• If no Animation Groups are defined, then the Contour colors are defined as Ungrouped for all M#s in the Data Block.

High & Low Contour Limits

High & Low Limits are entered into the High Limit and Low Limit boxes above and below the color bar. • For example, if the Low Limit = 50 and the High Limit = 100, then color contours will only be

displayed for shape values between 50 & 100. • Values above or below the limits are displayed using the limit colors.

Contours During Animation

• If a Point has shape data in only one direction (or only one of the Animate | Deformation direction commands is checked), then contour colors are displayed for shape values between Plus & Minus limits.

• If a Point has shape data in more than one direction, contour colors are displayed for shape magnitudes between positive Low & High limits.

Labels & Grids Tab

Displays different items in the Trace graphics area. • Graph Titles, X-axis & Y-axis Labels are displayed if checked, . • Vertical & Horizontal Grid Lines are displayed if checked. • A Scroll Tip, M#'s, or DOFs are displayed next to the vertical scroll bar, if checked.

Show/Hide Tab

Shows/hides columns of the Traces spreadsheet. • Right click on the Traces spreadsheet and select Show/Hide Columns from the menu to

display this tab. • On the Show/Hide tab, check columns to show them, un-check columns to hide them. .

Animation Tab

During Sweep animation, the user-specified number of Sine Dwell Cycles per Shape is executed before proceeding to the next shape.

File | Close Data Block

Closes the Data Block window. • Any window can also be closed by clicking on the close button in the upper right corner of

the window.

Opening a Window

To open a Data Block window in the Work Area, • Double click on its name in either pane of the Project Panel.


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• Or right click on its name in either pane of the Project Panel, and execute Open from the menu.

Edit | Undo, Redo

Edit | Undo


saved. • The Number of edits saved is changed on the General tab in the Project | Options dialog box

of the ME'scopeVES window.

Edit | Redo


Edit | Select Traces Menu

The commands in this menu are used to select and un-select Traces.

NOTE: Most Data Block window commands operate on all (or selected) Traces.

• A selected Trace is displayed with a green background, and its Select button is depressed in the Traces spreadsheet.

• Right click on the graphics area or Traces spreadsheet to execute these commands from the drop down menu.

Data Block Showing Four Selected Traces.

Select By...

When this command executed, a dialog box will open containing a drop down list of options for selecting Traces.

• Choose a method from the Select Traces By drop down list.


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• Choose items from the selection list below it. • Hold down the Shift or Ctrl key to make multiple selections. • Click on Select to select the Traces.

Select Traces By Dialog box.

Start and Skip M#s Opens another dialog box wherein you can enter a Starting M# and a Skip M#s (number of M#s to skip over) for selecting Traces.

• The default values are Starting M# = 1, and Skip M#s = 0.

By Units Selects Traces by their Engineering Units.

• Engineering Units are listed in the Units column in the Traces spreadsheet.

By DOF Selects Traces by their DOF;

Trace DOF = Roving DOF : Reference DOF [Measurement Set] • Single channel Traces have only a Roving DOF. • Cross channel Traces have a Roving & Reference DOFs. • Measurement Set numbers are used when data is acquired in multiple measurement sets. • Trace DOFs are displayed in the DOFs column in the Traces spreadsheet.

By Roving DOF Selects Traces by their Roving DOF;

Trace DOF = Roving DOF : Reference DOF

By Reference DOF Selects Traces by their Reference DOF;


By Point


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Selects Traces by their Roving DOF Point number;

Trace DOF = Roving (Point Number & Direction) : Reference DOF.

By Direction Selects Traces by their Roving direction;


By Rectangular Matrix DOFs Selects Traces that form a rectangular matrix of rows & columns based on their DOFs.

• Roving DOFs correspond to rows of the rectangular matrix. • Reference DOFs correspond to columns of the rectangular matrix.

By Measurement Type Selects Traces by their Measurement Type.

• Measurement Types are listed in the Measurement Type column in the Traces spreadsheet.

By Measurement Set Selects Traces by their Measurement Set number;

Trace DOF = Roving DOF : Reference DOF [Measurement Set]

By Data Type Selects Traces by their Data Type.

• Data Types are listed in the Data Type column in the Traces spreadsheet.

By Label Selects Traces by their text Label.

• Labels are listed in the Label column in the Traces spreadsheet.

By Input Output Selects Traces by their Input Output.

• Input Output is listed in the Input Output column in the Traces spreadsheet.

By Acoustic Source Selects Traces by their Source name.

• Source names are listed in the Acoustic Source column in the Traces spreadsheet.

By SubShape Selects Traces by their SubShape name.

• SubShape names are listed in the SubShape column in the Traces spreadsheet.

By Z Axis Selects Traces by their Z-Axis text label.

• The Z Axis labels are listed in the Z-Axis column in the Traces spreadsheet.

Select All


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Selects all Traces.

Invert Selection

Inverts the Trace selection. • All selected Traces are un-selected, and all un-selected Traces are selected.

Select None

Un-selects all Traces.

Edit | Sort Traces Menu

The commands is this menu are used to sort (or re-order) the Traces in a Data Block. • Each Trace has a unique M#, which is its row in the Traces spreadsheet • Traces are numbered in order, from (M# 1) to (M# N), N = the number of Traces in the Data

Block.

NOTE: Trace ordering is important because the Animation Equations of a connected structure model use M#s to animate shapes from a Data Block.

Sort By...

When executed, a dialog box will open containing a list of Sorting options, • Choose a sorting method from the Sort Traces By drop down list. • Choose items from the Select From list, or check Select All to choose all items in the Select

From list. • Use Ascending, Descending, and the Remove button to obtain the desired Sort Using list. • Click on Sort to sort the Traces.

Sort Traces By Dialog box.

By Units


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Sorts Traces by their Engineering Units. • Engineering Units are listed in the Units column in the Traces spreadsheet.

By DOF Sorts Traces by their DOF;

Trace DOF = Roving DOF : Reference DOF [Measurement Set] • Single channel Traces have only a Roving DOF. • Cross channel Traces have a Roving & Reference DOFs. • Measurement Set numbers are used when data is acquired in multiple measurement sets. • Trace DOFs are displayed in the DOFs column in the Traces spreadsheet.

By Roving DOF Sorts Traces by their Roving DOF;


By Reference DOF Sorts Traces by their Reference DOF;


By Point Sorts Traces by their Roving DOF Point number;


By Direction Sorts Traces by their Roving direction;


By Rectangular Matrix DOFs Sorts Traces that form a rectangular matrix of rows & columns based on their DOFs.


By Measurement Type Sorts Traces by their Measurement Type.

• Measurement Types are listed in the Measurement Type column in the Traces spreadsheet.

By Measurement Set Sorts Traces by their Measurement Set number;

Trace DOF = Roving DOF : Reference DOF [Measurement Set]

By Data Type Sorts Traces by their Data Type.

• Data Types are listed in the Data Type column in the Traces spreadsheet.

By Label


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Sorts Traces by their Label. • Labels are listed in the Label column in the Traces spreadsheet.

By Input Output Sorts Traces by their Input Output.

• Input Output is listed in the Input Output column in the Traces spreadsheet.

By Acoustic Source Sorts Traces by their Source name.

• Source names are listed in the Acoustic Source column in the Traces spreadsheet.

By SubShape Sorts Traces by their SubShape name.

• SubShape names are listed in the SubShape column in the Traces spreadsheet.

By Z Axis Sorts Traces by their Z-Axis text label.

• The Z Axis labels are listed in the Z-Axis column in the Traces spreadsheet.

Manual Sort

Enables manual sorting of Traces by selecting them in a desired order. When this command is executed, a dialog box is opened with instructions for selecting Traces. The first Trace selected will become M#1, the second Trace M#2, and so on, after they are sorted.

• Hold down the Ctrl key, and click on each Trace to select it in the desired order. • Or click on Select buttons in the Traces spreadsheet to select Traces in the desired order.

After all of the Traces have been selected, • Execute this command again to sort the Traces in the order in which they were selected. • All un-selected Traces will follow the selected Traces in the new sorted order.

Selected Traces Prior to a Manual Sort.

Display | Center Data Block Window


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Centers the window in the Work Area of the ME'scope window.


Display | Traces Spreadsheet

Moves the vertical blue splitter bar either to the left to display the Traces spreadsheet, or to the right to hide the spreadsheet.

Display | Data Block Toolbars

If checked, the Toolbars are displayed in the Data Block window.

Display | Trace Label on Graph

Displays the Trace Label on each Trace graph. • Trace Labels are viewed and edited in the Traces spreadsheet.

Trace Label Displayed on a Trace Graph.

Display | Real

Displays real Trace data or the Real Part of complex Trace data.


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Data Block Window Showing Real Part of an FRF.

Display | Imaginary

Displays the Imaginary Part of complex Trace data.

Data Block Window Showing Imaginary Part of an FRF.

Display | Magnitude

Displays the magnitude of the Trace data.


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Real & Imaginary Parts on the Complex Plane.

Data Block Window Showing Log Magnitude of an FRF.

Linear, Log or dB

Magnitudes can be displayed in Linear, Log or dB (decibels) format. When Log or dB is chosen, you can also choose the number of decades to display.

• Linear, Log, dB & decades choices are made in the Format | Vertical Axis dialog box. • Right click in the graphics area, or double click on the vertical axis labels area to open the

Format | Vertical Axis dialog box.


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dB Units for Linear versus Power Quantities

• For Linear (RMS) quantities (FRFs, Fourier Spectra, etc.),

Magnitude (dB) = 20 Log 10

• For Power (MS) quantities (Auto Spectra, PSD’s, etc.), ( Magnitude )


Display | Phase

( Magnitude )

Displays the Phase of complex Trace data, with values between +180 & -180 degrees.

Data Block Window Showing Phase of an FRF.

Display | CoQuad (Real & Imaginary)

Displays the Traces in CoQuad (Real & Imaginary) format. • The Real part is also called the Coincident waveform. • The Imaginary part is called the Quadrature waveform.


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CoQuad Display.

Display | Bode (Magnitude & Phase)

Displays the Traces in Bode (Magnitude & Phase) format.

Bode Plot.

Display | Nyquist (Real versus Imaginary)

Displays the Real part on the horizontal axis and the Imaginary part on the vertical axis of each displayed Trace.


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Nyquist Plot of an FRF.

Display | Cursor Menu

Display | Cursor | Line Cursor

If checked, the Line cursor is displayed as a vertical red line on each Trace.

Display | Cursor | Band Cursor

If checked, the Band cursor is displayed as two vertical red lines (or edges) on each Trace.

Display | Cursor | Peak Cursor

If checked, the Peak cursor is displayed as two vertical red lines (or edges) on each Trace, and the peak sample (maximum value of the displayed data) within the cursor band is displayed as a red dot.

Display | Cursor | Cursor Values

If checked, the cursor values are displayed in a text box next to the cursor on each Trace. • Hold down the left mouse button to display cursor values next to the cursor. • Click & drag to move the cursor value text box vertically on the display.

Display | Cursor | Orders

If checked, all of the visible orders (2x, 3x, 4x, etc.) of the Line or Peak cursor are displayed on each Trace

NOTE: Each order is highlighted with a red dot at the nearest sample to the order.


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Data Block Showing Order cursors.

Display | Cursor | Peak Finder

Moves the cursor to the maximum value of the displayed Trace data. • If the Line cursor is displayed, it will move to the peak within the current cursor band.

NOTE: The Peak Finder only finds the peak value within the current cursor Band. Display the Band Cursor first before using the Peak Finder with the Line cursor.

• If the Peak or Band cursor is displayed, its band is centered around the peak within the current cursor Band.

Moving the Cursors

• Position the mouse pointer at the desired position on a Trace graph, and click the left mouse button.

• Or place the mouse pointer anywhere on a Trace graph, and click & drag the mouse pointer.

Moving the Band or Peak cursor • Place the mouse pointer inside the band, and click & drag.

Moving one edge of the Band or Peak cursor • Place the mouse pointer outside the band near the edge, and click & drag.

Using the Peak Finder • With the Peak Finder enabled, click near a peak to move the cursor to that peak.

Animating the Shape at the Cursor Position

NOTE: The Line, Peak or Band cursor must be displayed in order to animate shapes from a Data Block in the connected Structure window.

• If the Line cursor is displayed, the Trace values at the cursor position are displayed in a connected Structure window as the shape.


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• If the Peak cursor is displayed, the Trace values at the peak in each Trace are displayed in a connected Structure window as the shape.

• If the Band cursor is displayed, the Trace values in the cursor band are summed together for each Trace and displayed in a connected Structure window as the shape.

Saving Shapes

NOTE: The Line, Peak or Band cursor must be displayed in order to execute Tools | Save Shape.

• If the Line cursor is displayed, the Trace values at the cursor position are saved into a Shape Table.

• If the Peak cursor is displayed, the Trace values at the peak in each Trace are saved into a Shape Table.

• If the Band cursor is displayed, the Trace values in the cursor band are summed together for each Trace and saved into a Shape Table.

• If the Order cursors are displayed, the Trace values at each visible order are saved as a separate shape in a Shape Table.

Display | Zoom, mooZ

Zoom expands the display of the Traces in the graphics area. mooZ restores the display of all Trace samples.

Zoom Operation

• Execute Display | Zoom to enable a Zoom operation • Move the mouse pointer into a Trace graph • The mouse pointer will change to (<=>) • Click & drag to draw a Zoom box over the area to be zoomed

Traces During a Zoom Operation.


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Traces After Zoom.

Using the Mouse Wheel

• Move the mouse pointer into a Trace graph • Click on the point to be zoomed about, and spin the mouse wheel

The display will expand in the horizontal direction about the mouse position

Horizontal & Vertical Zoom

After executing the Zoom command • Hold down the Ctrl key • The mouse pointer will change to (+) • Click & drag to draw a Zoom box over the area to be zoomed

Panning After a Zoom

When the Traces display is zoomed, a horizontal scroll bar is displayed at the bottom of the Trace graphics area. To pan the display along the X-axis direction,

• Hold down the Shift key, and click & drag the mouse in the graphics area • Or use the horizontal scroll bar

Display | Maximize

Maximizes the Y-Axis display of the Traces to make the data more visible. • If Traces are selected, then only the selected Traces are maximized. • If the Peak or Band cursor is displayed, the data in the cursor band is maximized.

If the Real or Imaginary part of the Traces is displayed, • Successive execution of this command changes the display between plus (+) and minus (-)

limits of the data and the vertical axis centered about the zero "0".


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Trace Before Maximizing in a Cursor Band.

Trace After Maximizing in a Cursor Band.

Display | Fill Under Graph Menu

Trace Color

If checked, each Trace color is used to fill under each Trace graph.

NOTE: Each Trace color is selected in the Color column of the Traces spreadsheet.

Fill Colors

If checked, the + Fill & - Fill colors on the Display tab of the File | Data Block Options box are used to fill under each Trace graph.


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Display Tab Showing Fill Colors.

Contour Colors

If checked, the colors on the Contour Colors tab of the File | Options box are used to fill under each Trace graph.

Bode Plot Using Contour Colors to Fill Under the Graph.

Animate | Create Animation Equations (Assign M#s)


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Creates Measured animation equations on the structure model in a connected Structure window, by assigning all (or selected) Traces (M#s) in a Data Block to DOFs (Points & directions) on the structure model.

NOTE: Animation equations are required in order to display shapes in animation on a structure model.

Connected Structure Window

When this command is executed, • A dialog box will open allowing you to choose a Structure to connect with the Data Block. • After a Structure window has been chosen, the following dialog box will open, giving a choice of

two methods for creating animation equations.

Match Structure and Source DOFs

Before selecting this method, the following conditions are required, • Each Point on the structure model where a measurement was made must be numbered (1, 2, 3,

etc.). • See Draw | Points Menu in the Structure Window Commands chapter for details on Point

numbering. • The Roving DOF of all (or selected) Traces in the Data Block must contain Point numbers &

directions that match those on the structure model.

Measured Equation Types

Translation Equation • If a Trace Data Type is Translation, a term is added to the Translation Measured animation

equation at each Point & direction that matches the Trace Roving DOF.

FEA Rotation Equation • If a Trace Data Type is FEA Rotation, a term is added to the FEA Rotation Measured equation

for each Point & direction that matches the Trace Roving DOF.

Scalar Equation • If a Trace Data Type is Scalar, a term is added to the Scalar Measured equation for each Point

that matches the Trace Roving DOF.

Machine Rotation Equation • If the Trace Data Type is Machine Rotation, a term is added to the Machine Rotation

Measured equation for each Point & Z direction that matches the Trace Roving DOF.

Measurement Axes


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Before creating Translation or FEA Rotation equations, the Measurement Axes at each Point must defined properly;

1. The Measurement Axes directions at each measurement Point must match the directions in the Trace DOFs;

2. Directions must be Rectangular (X, Y, Z), Cylindrical (R, T, Z) , Spherical (R, T, P), or Machine (H, V, A).

3. The Measurement Axes must be oriented to coincide with the actual directions of measurement.

4. See the Measurement Axes section in the Structure Window Commands chapter for details.

Multiple Reference Measurements

If the Trace DOFs contain multiple reference DOFs, a Measured equation will contain a term for each reference.

For example, for Traces with DOFs in the table below, the following Animation equations would be created;

• Point 1 in the X direction: +1.0*[M#1] +1.0*[M#4] • Point 2 in the X direction: -1.0*[M#2] -1.0*[M#5] • Point 3 in the X direction: +1.0*[M#3] +1.0*[M#6]

NOTE: Only the sign of the Roving DOF is used to add terms to the equation. The sign of the Reference DOF is not used.

Graphical Assignment of M#s

When this method is chosen, a dialog box is opened as shown below,


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Graphical Assignment Dialog Box.

• Make sure the M# box in the Graphical M# Assignment dialog contains the number of the next M# to be assigned to the structure model.

• Click on a Point to select it. • Its Measurement Axes will be displayed in a separate dialog box, as shown above • Click on one of the Measurement Axes in the dialog box. • A Measured animation equation will be created and displayed in the dialog box.

• If you select the wrong direction, check Clear Equations and Source DOFs in the dialog, and click on the wrong direction to clear it.

Using Click Select

NOTE: The Edit | Click Select command is also enabled when Graphical Assignment is chosen,

• When Edit | Click Select is enabled, the Measurement Axes of the Point nearest to the mouse pointer is displayed differently.

• Click the left mouse button to select the Point. • Hold down the Ctrl key to toggle the Point selection.

Trace DOF Creation

• During Graphical Assignment, if a selected Point is numbered (its Label contains a number), a Trace DOF is automatically created for the assigned M# in the Traces spreadsheet.

• The Trace DOF will contain the Point number and the selected Measurement Axis direction. • For example, if M#1 is graphically assigned to Point 1 in the Z direction on the structure model,

DOF 1Z will be created for M#1 in the Traces spreadsheet.

Animate | Animate Shapes

Initiates animation in the connected Structure window using Trace values at the current cursor location in the Data Block.


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• To display a shape, the Animation equations in the connected Structure window are used to retrieve Trace data for M#s at the current cursor location.

• The displayed shape is defined by Trace data at the current cursor location in the Data Block. • Press the Left or Right Arrow key on the keyboard to change the current cursor location on

the Traces. • This command is the same as Draw | Animate Shapes in the connected Structure window.

Sweep Animation

When Animate | Method | Sweep is enabled in the connected Structure window, • The cursor is swept through the Traces the Trace values at the current cursor location are

displayed as the animated shape.

Dwell Animation

When Animate | Method | Sine Dwell is enabled in the connected Structure window, • Each shape is multiplied by sine wave values (between -1 & +1) to provide sinusoidal animation

of the shape.

Stationary Dwell

When Animate | Method | Stationary Dwell is enabled in the connected Structure window, • The Trace values at the current cursor location are displayed as the shape.

To cycle through each of the three kinds of animation,

• Repeatedly click on the Animate | Method commands list in the connected Structure window.

Which Data is Animated?

• If Display | Real is checked, only the Real part of the Trace data is displayed as the animated shape.

• If Display | Imaginary is checked, only the Imaginary part of the Trace data is displayed as the animated shape.

• For all other data formats, the complex Trace data is displayed as the animated shape.

Selected M#s

• If M#s are selected, only Trace values for the selected M#s are used for the animated shape. • If M#s are not selected, Trace values from all M#s in the Animation equations are used for the

animated shape.

Multiple Reference DOFs

• Shapes can only be animated from one Reference DOF at a time. • Shapes are animated from one Reference DOF by selecting those Traces with the same

Reference DOF. • If animation is initiated from a Data Block with multiple reference DOFs, the Edit | Select

Traces | Select By dialog box will open.


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• Choose a Reference DOF, and press the Select button to display shapes for that Reference DOF.

Trace Reference DOF Selection Box.

Terminating Animation

• Execute Animate | Animate Shapes again to terminate shape animation

Animate | Renumber M#s

Renumbers the M#s of the Traces in the Data Block file.

NOTE: Each Trace has a unique M# which is used by the Animation equations in a connected Structure window to animate shapes from the Data Block.

• If the M#s are renumbered, new Animation equations must be created by executing Animate | Create Animation Equations, or Draw | Animation Equations | Create Measured in the connected Structure window.

Animate | Animate Using | Groups

If checked, animates data from different Groups together on the same structure model. • Each Group is scaled for animation using shape values with the same Group name. • The names in the Group column in the Traces spreadsheet are used to scale the shape data for

each Group. • For example, Trace data for the M#s with Group name "Acoustic Power" (with values in the

range +100 to -100) would be scaled differently than Trace data for M#s with Group name "Vibration" (with values in the range +10,000 to -10,000).

• If there are no names in the Group column, then all M#s are scaled as a single shape.

Entering Group Names in a Data Block

• Execute Edit | Select Traces | By, choose Data Type and select all of the Traces with one Data Type.

• Double click on the Group column in the Traces spreadsheet.


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• Enter the Group name into the dialog box, and click on OK.

Format | Rows Columns

Displays Traces in a Row & Column format. When it is executed, a matrix of (row, column) format selections is displayed, as shown below.

• Up to 10 rows and 10 columns can be displayed at once. • If there are more than 100 Traces, a vertical scroll bar is displayed on the right hand side of

the Trace display, for scrolling through the Traces.

Traces in Row/Column Format.

Format | Strip Chart

Displays up to 10 Traces together with a common X-Axis below them. • If there are more than 10 Traces, a vertical scroll bar is displayed on the right hand side of the

Trace graphs for scrolling through the Traces.


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Strip Chart Showing Three Traces.

Format | Overlaid

Displays all (or selected) Traces in overlaid format.

NOTE: If the Y-Axis scaling is Auto, it is changed to Relative when this command is executed. (See Format | Y-Axis for details).

Imaginary Parts of FRFs in Overlaid Format.


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Format | Overlay By DOF

If checked, all (or selected) Traces with the same Roving DOF are displayed together in Overlaid format. This command is useful for displaying FRFs & Coherences together in overlaid format.

FRFs & Coherence Overlaid by DOF.

Format | Cascade

Displays all (or selected) Traces in a Cascade plot. To change the angle of the Cascade axes, • Place the mouse pointer on the Cascade Plot, hold down the right mouse button, and drag the

mouse.


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Zoomed Cascade Plot.

Format | Contour Map

Displays all (or selected) Traces in a color contour map.

NOTE: The colors used for the contour map are chosen in the Contour Colors tab in the File | Data Block Options dialog box.


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Cascade Map Showing 14 Selected Traces.

NOTE: The vertical axis is labeled using either Trace M#s or DOFs, which are chosen in Scroll Tip section on the Labels & Grids tab in the File | Data Block Options box.

Format | Y-Axis

Opens the Y-Axis format dialog box. This dialog box can also be opened by, • Right clicking in the graphics area, and executing Format | Y-Axis from the menu. • Or double clicking on the Y-Axis area of any Trace display.

Scaling

• Auto Scale displays each Trace between its minimum & maximum values. • Relative Scale displays each Trace between the minimum & maximum values of all Traces in

the Data Block. • Fixed Scale displays each Trace between user-defined minimum & maximum limits.

Fixed scaling limits can be defined for the following display formats, • Real part, Imaginary part, Linear Magnitude, Log Magnitude, Magnitude in dB, or Phase.

Scaling from the Traces Spreadsheet

Each Trace can be scaled by editing its cells in the Y-axis Scale, Fixed Minimum & Fixed Maximum columns of the Traces spreadsheet.

• Select the Traces to be scaled. • Double click on the Y-axis Scale column heading. • Choose the scaling method in the dialog box that opens, and click on OK.


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NOTE: If Fixed scaling is chosen, the Fixed Minimum & Fixed Maximum limits must be entered into their respective columns in the spreadsheet.

dB Units for Linear versus Power Quantities

Magnitudes can be displayed in dB (decibels) units. For Linear (RMS) quantities, (such as FRFs, Fourier Spectra, etc.) the Magnitude is displayed as,


For Power (MS) quantities (such as Auto & Cross Spectra), the Magnitude is displayed as,

( Magnitude )


Labels & Grids

( Magnitude )

Same as the choices on the Labels & Grids tab in the File | Data Block Options box.

Format | X-Axis

Opens the X-Axis dialog box. This dialog box can also be opened by, • Right clicking in the graphics area, and executing Format | X-Axis from the menu. • Or double clicking on the X-Axis area of any Trace display.

Display Limits

The Starting & Ending limits of the X-Axis display. • All Traces are displayed between the Display Limits unless the Reset button is pressed.

X-Axis & Axis Units

These two drop down lists define the X-Axis for all Traces in a Data Block.


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• Time domain Traces can be displayed as Linear Time, Log Time or Samples, with Units of Seconds, Milliseconds or Micro-seconds.

• Frequency domain Traces can be displayed as Linear Frequency, Log Frequency or Samples, with units of Hz, CPM, RPM or Orders.

Labels & Grids

Same as the choices on the Labels & Grids tab in the File | Data Block Options box.

Tools | Save Shape

Saves the Trace data at the current cursor location from all (or selected) Traces, into a Shape Table.

• If Display | Real is checked, only the Real part of the Trace data is saved.

• If Display | Imaginary is checked, only the Imaginary part of the Trace data is saved. • For all other data formats, the complex Trace data is saved. • If the Peak cursor is displayed, the peak value in the cursor band in each Trace is saved. • If the Band cursor is displayed, the average of the Trace data in the band in each Trace is saved. • If the Order cursor is displayed, the values at all visible orders in each Trace are saved as

multiple shapes.

Add To or Replace Shapes

When this command is executed, a Shape Table selection dialog box opens, as shown below. • Press Add To to add the shape as a new shape to the Shape Table. • Press Replace to replace all of the shapes in the Shape Table with the new shape.

Matching DOFs

• The DOFs of the new shape are matched with the DOFs in the Shape Table • If a DOF doesn't match, a new DOF is created in the Shape Table.


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Shape Table Selection Box.

Replacing a Shape

To replace a shape in the Shape Table with the new shape, • Select the shape in the Shape Table. • Execute Tools | Save Shape. • Press Replace in the Shape Table selection dialog box.

Replacing DOFs of a Shape

To replace certain DOFs of a shape in the Shape Table with DOFs of the new shape, • Select the shape in the Shape Table. • Select the DOFs in the Shape Table. • Execute Tools | Save Shape. • Press Replace in the Shape Table selection dialog box.

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Shape Table Window Commands

Shape Table Window.

This chapter contains descriptions of the basic commands in the Shape Table window.

NOTE: Additional Shape Table commands are documented in the Command Reference chapters for certain ME'scopeVES Options.

The Shape Table window is used for; • Viewing, editing, and performing math operations on operating deflection shapes (ODS's) ,

mode shapes, acoustic shapes, and engineering data shapes. • Animating shapes on a 3D model in a connected Structure window.

Shapes & DOFs Spreadsheets

The Shape Table window is divided into two spreadsheets, separated by a blue splitter bar. • The Shapes spreadsheet is (above or left of) the blue splitter bar. • The DOFs spreadsheet is (below or right of) of the blue splitter bar. • Drag the blue splitter bar in the window to make either spreadsheet larger.

Menu Commands

Menu command descriptions are ordered in this chapter by command menu (from left to right), and then by the commands in each menu (from top to bottom).


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Shape Table Mouse & Keyboard Operations


Right Click Menus

• Right click on a spreadsheet to display a menu of frequently used commands.

Re-Ordering Spreadsheet Columns








cells.

Shapes Spreadsheet

• The Shapes spreadsheet is (above or left of) the blue splitter bar. • Each row of the Shapes spreadsheet contains a parameter for each shape in the Shape Table.

The Shapes spreadsheet contains the following columns; • Select Shape button • Frequency (or Time) • Damping • Units of frequency & damping (or time) • Damping (%) • Label • Date/Time


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• Color • Shape color (used during animation if Animate Using the Shape Color is checked on the File |

Shape Table Options Animation tab) • MPC (Modal Phase Colinearity)



The File | Shape Table Options box will open displaying the Show/Hide tab, as shown below • Check columns to show them, and Un-check columns to hide them.



The File | Shape Table Options box will open displaying the Show/Hide tab. • Click on the Reset Column Widths button.

DOFs Spreadsheet

• The DOFs spreadsheet is (below or right of) of the blue splitter bar. • Each row of the DOFs spreadsheet contains a parameter for each shape in the Shape Table.

The DOFs spreadsheet contains the following columns, • See Traces Spreadsheet for details on these columns.


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• Select DOFs button • DOFs • Measurement Type • Units • Label • Data Type • Linear Power • Peak/RMS/Pk-Pk • Acoustic Weight • Acoustic Surface • Group • Color • Shape components (displayed in different formats using commands in the Display | Shape

DOFs menu)



The File | Data Block Options box will open displaying the Show/Hide tab as shown below. • Check columns to show them, and Un-Check columns to hide them.


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The File | Shape Table Options box will open displaying the Show/Hide tab. • Click on the Reset Column Widths button.

Unique M#s

NOTE: Each row in the DOFs spreadsheet has a unique measurement number (M#).

• M#s are listed in the Select DOF column. • During animation of shapes from a Shape Table, M#s are used by Animation equations in a

connected Structure window to retrieve data from the DOFs spreadsheet.

Group Column

Groups are used for scaling different types of shape data (such as vibration and acoustic data), so that both can be displayed together in animation.

• If no names are entered in this column, all M#s are treated as a single Group. (See Tools | Animate Using | Groups for details.)

• For shape animation, contour colors can be defined for each Group. (See the Color Contours tab under the File | Shape Table Options command for details.)

File | Save Shape Table

Saves the Shape Table file into the current Project file on disk.

File | Save Shape Table As...

Saves a copy of the Shape Table file with a new name into the current Project file on disk.

Importing Shapes Using Spreadsheet Format

• Use the ME'scope Shape Table spreadsheet (.TXT) file format to import shape data in ASCII text spreadsheet format.

• The ME'scope spreadsheet format is columns of text separated by delimiters, such as commas or tab characters.

Creating a .TXT File Template

To create an .TXT file template, • Start with any Shape Table (SHP) file in ME'scope. • Use any file from one of the Projects in the Examples or Demos folder. • Open the Shape Table (SHP) file. • Execute File | Export and export the file in .TXT format.

Add Your Data To The .TXT File

• Open the .TXT file in a spreadsheet program like MS Excel or a word processor like MS Word


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• Replace the shape data in the spreadsheet columns with your data. • Edit the other information where applicable. • Save the file to disk.

Import The .TXT File

NOTE: Make sure that the .TXT file is no longer open in the spreadsheet or word processor program before importing it to ME'scope.

• Execute File | Import | Shape Table in the ME'scope window and import the .TXT File.

File | Export Shape Table

Exports the data in the Shape Table window to a disk file in an external file format. When this command is executed, the Windows File Save As dialog box is opened.

• Choose an export file format from the Save as type list. • Choose a disk folder in which to save the file, or create a new one. • Type the desired file name into the File name box. • Click on the Save button.

UFF File Export

• The table below shows the Data Set Type that is created when a Shape Table is exported to a disk file in UFF format.

• If the Shape Table is connected to a Structure file, a dialog box will open asking if you want to export both the Shape Table & Structure files together in the same file.

• If you click on Yes, both files are exported. • If you click on No, then only the Shape Table file is exported.

NOTE: UFF only supports Global (X, Y, Z) coordinates, so shape components are converted from Measurement Axes to Global (X, Y, Z) coordinates when exported to a UFF file.

ME'scopeVES File Type of Data UFF Data Type

Structure (.STR) Structure Points & Lines

15 & 82

Shape Table (.SHP) Shapes 55

Data Block (.BLK) Time Waveforms, FRFs,

Transmissibility's, Auto & Cross

Spectra, Fourier Spectra.

58



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Copy Shapes Spreadsheet

Copies the Shapes spreadsheet to the Windows Clipboard.

Copy DOFs Spreadsheet

Copies the DOFs spreadsheet to the Windows Clipboard.

File | Print Menu


Print Shapes Spreadsheet

Prints the Shapes spreadsheet on the Windows printer.

Print DOFs Spreadsheet

Prints the DOFs spreadsheet on the Windows printer.

File | Shape Table Properties

Opens the Shape Properties dialog box, as shown below.

Shape Properties Dialog Box.

File | Shape Table Options

Opens the Shape Table Options box. • Many options take effect in the Shape Table window as soon as they are chosen in this Options

box.


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Display Tab

Formats for displaying shape Phase angles. • Phase angles can be displayed in the ranges (0 to 360) or (-180 to 180) degrees.

Animation Tab

During Sweep animation, the number of Sine Dwell Cycles per Shape is executed before displaying the next shape.

• If Line Color uses Shape Color is checked, the Shape color is used as the Line color during animation.

Show/Hide Tab

Shows or hides columns of the Shapes or DOFs spreadsheets. • Or right click on the Shapes or DOFs spreadsheet and select Show/Hide Columns from the

menu. • Check columns to show them. Un-Check columns to hide them.

Contour Colors Tab

Contour colors are used by the following commands, • Commands in the Animate | Contours Menu in a connected Structure window.


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• Display | MAC. • Display | Source Rank. • Click on one of the Default buttons to assign pre-defined colors to the contours.

Contours for Each SubShape

SubShapes are defined by entering names into the SubShape column of the Traces spreadsheet. • If SubShapes are defined in a Shape Table, then different contour colors can be defined for each

SubShape • If SubShapes are not defined, Contour colors are defined for all M#s in the Data Block.

High & Low Contour Limits

High & Low Limits are entered into the High Limit and Low Limit boxes above & below the color bar. • If the Low Limit = 50 and the High Limit = 100, then color contours will only be displayed for

shape values between 50 & 100. • Values above or below the limits are displayed using the limit colors.

If shape data at a Point is only one dimensional (only one of the Animate | Direction commands is checked), then contours are displayed for shape values between Plus & Minus limits. If shape data at a Point is more than one dimensional, contours are displayed for shape magnitudes between positive Low & High limits.

File | Close Shape Table

Closes the Shape Table window. • Any window can also be closed by clicking on the close button in the upper right corner of

the window.

Opening a Window

To open a Shape Table window in the Work Area, • Double click on its name in either pane of the Project Panel. • Or right click on its name in either pane of the Project Panel, and execute Open from the menu.

Edit | Undo, Redo

Edit | Undo



of the ME'scopeVES window.

Edit | Redo



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Edit | Select Shapes Menu

Select All

Selects all shapes.

Invert Selection

Changes un-selected shapes to selected, and selected shapes to un-selected.

Select None

Un-selects all shapes. • Double click on the Shape column heading in the Shapes spreadsheet to select or un-select all

shapes.

Edit | Sort Shapes Menu

By Ascending Frequency/time

Sorts all shapes in the Shape Table by ascending order of their frequencies (or times).

By Descending Frequency/Time

Sorts all shapes in the Shape Table by descending order of their frequencies (or times).

Edit | Select DOFs Menu

NOTE: Most Shape Table commands operate on all (or selected) Traces (M#s), and some commands operate only on selected Traces (M#s).

• A selected Trace (M#) is displayed with a green background, and its Select DOF button is depressed in the DOFs spreadsheet.

• Or right click on the DOFs spreadsheet and execute these commands from the menu.

Select By

When executed, a dialog box will open containing a list of options for selecting M#s; • Choose a method from the Select DOFs By drop down list. • Choose items from the selection list below. • Hold down the Shift or Ctrl key and make multiple selections. • Click on Select to select the DOFs.


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Select DOFs By Dialog box.

Start and Skip M#s Opens another dialog box wherein you can enter a Starting M# and a Skip M#s (number of M#s to skip over) for selecting M#s.

• The default values are Starting M# = 1, and Skip M#s = 0.

By Units Selects M#s by their Engineering Units.

• Engineering Units are listed in the Units column in the DOFs spreadsheet.

By DOF Selects M#s by their DOF;

M# DOF = Roving DOF : Reference DOF [Measurement Set] • Single channel M#s have only a Roving DOF. • Cross channel M#s have a Roving & Reference DOFs. • Measurement Set numbers are used when data is acquired in multiple measurement sets. • M# DOFs are displayed in the DOFs column in the DOFs spreadsheet.

By Roving DOF Selects M#s by their Roving DOF;

M# DOF = Roving DOF : Reference DOF

By Reference DOF Selects M#s by their Reference DOF;


By Point Selects M#s by their Roving DOF Point number;

M# DOF = Roving (Point Number & Direction) : Reference DOF.

By Direction Selects M#s by their Roving direction;



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By Rectangular Matrix DOFs Selects M#s that form a rectangular matrix of rows & columns based on their DOFs.


By Measurement Type Selects M#s by their Measurement Type.

• Measurement Types are listed in the Measurement Type column in the DOFs spreadsheet.

By Measurement Set Selects M#s by their Measurement Set number;

M# DOF = Roving DOF : Reference DOF [Measurement Set]

By Data Type Selects M#s by their Data Type.

• Data Types are listed in the Data Type column in the DOFs spreadsheet.

By Label Selects M#s by their text Label.

• Labels are listed in the Label column in the DOFs spreadsheet.

By Input Output Selects M#s by their Input Output.

• Input Output is listed in the Input Output column in the DOFs spreadsheet.

By Acoustic Source Selects M#s by their Source name.

• Source names are listed in the Acoustic Source column in the DOFs spreadsheet.

By SubShape Selects M#s by their SubShape name.

• SubShape names are listed in the SubShape column in the DOFs spreadsheet.

Select All

Selects all M#s.

Invert Selection

Inverts the selection of all M#s. • All selected M#s are un-selected, and all un-selected M#s are selected.

Select None

Un-selects all M#s.

Edit | Sort DOFs


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Sorts (re-orders) all (or selected) M#s in the DOFs spreadsheet.

NOTE: Each shape DOF (shape component) has a unique M#. M#s are used by the Animation equations in a connected Structure window to retrieve shape components from a Shape Table.

When this command is executed, the dialog box below opens; • Choose a sorting method from the Sort DOFs By drop down list. • Use individual selections from the Select From list, or Select All to obtain an initial Sort Using

list. • Use the Ascending, Descending selections to order the Sort Using list. • Select items in the list and use the Remove button to obtain the desired list. • Click on Sort to sort the M#s according to the Sort Using list.

All DOFs that don't satisfy the criterion in the Sort Using list will follow the sorted DOFs in the sorted order.

Sort DOFs By Dialog box.

By Units Sorts M#s by their Engineering Units.

• Engineering Units are listed in the Units column in the DOFs spreadsheet.

By DOF Sorts M#s by their DOF;

M# DOF = Roving DOF : Reference DOF [Measurement Set] • Single channel M#s have only a Roving DOF. • Cross channel M#s have a Roving & Reference DOFs. • Measurement Set numbers are used when data is acquired in multiple measurement sets. • M# DOFs are displayed in the DOFs column in the DOFs spreadsheet.

By Roving DOF Sorts M#s by their Roving DOF;


By Reference DOF Sorts M#s by their Reference DOF;


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By Point Sorts M#s by their Roving DOF Point number;


By Direction Sorts M#s by their Roving direction;


By Rectangular Matrix DOFs Sorts M#s that form a rectangular matrix of rows & columns based on their DOFs.


By Measurement Type Sorts M#s by their Measurement Type.

• Measurement Types are listed in the Measurement Type column in the DOFs spreadsheet.

By Measurement Set Sorts M#s by their Measurement Set number;

M# DOF = Roving DOF : Reference DOF [Measurement Set]

By Data Type Sorts M#s by their Data Type.

• Data Types are listed in the Data Type column in the DOFs spreadsheet.

By Label Sorts M#s by their text Label.

• Labels are listed in the Label column in the DOFs spreadsheet.

By Input Output Sorts M#s by their Input Output.

• Input Output is listed in the Input Output column in the DOFs spreadsheet.

By Acoustic Source Sorts M#s by their Source name.

• Source names are listed in the Acoustic Source column in the DOFs spreadsheet.

By SubShape Sorts M#s by their SubShape name.

• SubShape names are listed in the SubShape column in the DOFs spreadsheet.

Display Menu

Center Window


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Centers the Shape Table window in the Work Area of the ME'scope window.


Toolbars

If checked, the Toolbars are displayed in the Shape Table window.

Split

Displays the two spreadsheets in side-by-side or upper-lower format. • In side-by-side format, the Shapes spreadsheet is on the left and the DOFs spreadsheet is on

the right of the blue splitter bar. • In upper-lower format, the Shapes spreadsheet is above and the DOFs spreadsheet is below

the blue splitter bar.

Display | Shape DOFs Menu

These commands display columns in the shape DOFs spreadsheet in several different formats. • Each Shape (number) column contains all shape components (M#s) of one shape. • Each row contains the components of all shapes for the same DOF (M#).

Shape Table Window.

Magnitude / Phase

• Displays the magnitude & phase of each shape component.

Magnitude (dB) / Phase


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• Displays the magnitude (in dB units) & phase of each shape component.

Magnitude

• Displays the magnitude of each shape component.

Magnitude dB

• Displays the magnitude (in dB units) of each shape component.

Phase

• Displays the phase of each shape component.

Real / Imaginary

• Displays the real & imaginary parts of each shape component.

Real

• Displays the real part of each shape component.

Imaginary

• Displays the imaginary part of each shape component.

Animate | Create Animation Equations (Assign M#s)

Creates Measured Animation equations on the structure model in a connected Structure window. • Measured Animation equations are created by assigning all (or selected) M#’s in the DOFs

spreadsheet to Points & directions on the structure model.

See Animate | Create Animation Equations in the Data Block Window Commands chapter for details.

Animate | Animate Shapes

Initiates animation in the connected Structure window using the selected shape data. • To display a shape, the Animation equations in the connected Structure window are used to

retrieve shape data at M#s for the selected shape. • Only one selected shape can be displayed in animation at a time from a Shape Table. • Use the left arrow & right arrow keys on the keyboard to select a different shape. • This command is the same as Draw | Animate Shapes in the connected Structure window.

Sweep Animation

When Animate | Method | Sweep is enabled in the connected Structure window, • Each shape is displayed in sequence, using N cycles of Sine Dwell animation. • (N is specified on the Animation tab in the File | Shape Table Options dialog box.)

Dwell Animation


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When Animate | Method | Sine Dwell is enabled in the connected Structure window, • Each shape is multiplied by sine wave values (between -1 & +1) to provide sinusoidal animation

of the shape.

Stationary Dwell

When Animate | Method | Stationary Dwell is enabled in the connected Structure window, • The values of the selected shape are merely displayed.

To cycle through each of the three kinds of animation,

• Repeatedly click on the Animate | Method commands list in the connected Structure window.

Which Data is Displayed?

• If Display | Shape DOFs | Real is checked, only the Real part of each shape is displayed in animation.

• If Display | Shape DOFs | Imaginary is checked, only the Imaginary part of each shape is displayed in animation.

• For all other data display formats, the complex shape data is displayed in animation.

Selected M#'s

• If M#s are selected, then only shape components from the selected M#s are displayed in animation.

• In no M#s are selected, data from all M#s in the Animation equations are used. • M#s are selected by using the Edit | Select DOFs | Select By command, or by pressing Select

DOF buttons in the DOFs spreadsheet.

Terminating Animation

• Execute Animate | Animate Shapes again to terminate animation in the connected Structure window.

Animate | Renumber M#s

Renumbers the M#s of the DOFs in the Shape Table.

NOTE: Each DOF has a unique M# which is used by the Animation equations in a Structure window to retrieve shape data from a Shape Table.

• If the M#s are renumbered, new Animation equations must be created by executing Tools | Create Animation Equations.

Animate | Animate Using | Groups

Animates shape data from different Groups together on the same structure model. • Each Group is scaled for animation using shape components with the same Group name.


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• The names in the Group column in the DOFs spreadsheet are used to scale the shape data for each Group.

• For example, all shape components with Group name "Acoustic Power" (with values in the range +100 to -100) would be scaled differently from shape components with Group name "Vibration" (with values in the range +10,000 to -10,000).

• If there are no names in the Group column, then all M#s are scaled as a single shape.

Entering Group Names

• Execute Edit | Select Traces | Select By, choose Data Type and select the DOFs with one Data Type.

• Double click on the Group column in the DOFs spreadsheet. A dialog box will open, • Enter the Group name and click on OK.

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Report Window Commands

Report Window

Report Window.

This chapter contains descriptions of the commands in the Report window. • A Report window is a text and graphics processor that can be used to document a Project. • A Report file (in RTF format) can be imported from and export to MS Word for further

enhancement.

Menu Commands




File Menu

Save Report

Saves the Report file into the current Project file on disk.

Save Report As

Saves a copy of the Report file with a new name into the current Project file on disk.


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Import Report

Imports a Report file from a disk file in an external file format. • Report files can be imported in text (.TXT) format or rich text format (.RTF).

Export Report

Exports the Report file to a disk file in an external file format. • Report files can be exported in text (.TXT) format or rich text format (.RTF).

Print

Prints the current Report file on the Windows printer.

NOTE: The installed Windows printer must be a graphics printer to use this command.

Page Setup

Opens the following dialog box for formatting pages in the Report document.

Report Page Setup Dialog.

Print Preview

Opens the following dialog box for previewing the Report document before printing it.


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Report Print Preview Dialog.

Close Report

Closes the Report file window. • Any window can also be closed by clicking on the close button in the upper right corner of

the window.

Opening a Window

To open a Report window in the Work Area, • Double click on its name in either pane of the Project Panel. • Or right click on its name in either pane of the Project Panel, and execute Open from the menu.

Edit Menu

Undo



of the ME'scopeVES window. • Hold down the Ctrl key and press the Z key to also execute this command.

Select All

Selects all of the text & graphics in the Report document. • Hold down the Ctrl key and press the A key to also execute this command.

Select None

Un-selects all of the text & graphics in the Report document.

Cut


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Deletes the selected text & graphics from the Report document onto the Windows Clipboard. • Hold down the Ctrl key and press the X key to also execute this command.

Copy to Clipboard

Copies the selected text & graphics from the Report document onto the Windows Clipboard. • Hold down the Ctrl key and press the C key to also execute this command.

Paste

Pastes the text & graphics from the Windows Clipboard into the Report document at the cursor position. • Hold down the Ctrl key and press the V key to also execute this command.

Delete

Deletes the selected text & graphics from the Report document.

Find Next

Opens the following dialog box for finding text in the Report document.

Find Next Dialog.

Replace

Opens the following dialog box for finding and replacing text in the Report document.

Replace Dialog.

Display Menu

Center Report Window


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Centers the Report window in the Work Area of the ME'scope window.


Page Layout and Normal

These two commands display the document either in Page Layout format or in Normal format. These two formats are shown below.

Page Layout Format.


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Normal Format.

Zoom menu

The commands in this menu zoom the Report display by percentages, from 25 to 300 percent. The Report display is also zoomed by using the Zoom slider in the lower right corner of the window.

Zoom Slider.


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Form Layout menu

The commands in this menu justify all of the Report text and graphics to the Left side or to the Right side..

Controls menu

The commands in this menu show and hide Toolbars and Rulers in the Report window.

Report Controls.

Insert Menu

Insert Page Break

Inserts a Page Break following the current cursor position in the document.

Insert File

Inserts text from a disk file into the document following the current cursor position.

Insert Picture from File

Inserts a picture into the document following the current cursor position

Insert Wrapping Page Break

If text is wrapped around a picture, this command will insert a page break following the wrapped text.


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Format Menu

Font

Opens the Font dialog box, which is used to change the font of selected text in the document.

Fonts Dialog Box.

Paragraph

Opens the Paragraph dialog box, which is used to format paragraphs of selected text in the document.


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Paragraph Dialog Box.

Bullets and Numbering Properties

Opens the Bullets and Numbering dialog box, which is used for adding bullets or numbering to lines of text in the document.


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Bullets and Numbering Properties Dialog Box.

All of the other commands in the Bullets and Numbering menu are used to edit the bullets and numbering on lines of text.

Styles

Opens the Styles dialog box, which is used to change the style of selected text in the document.


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Styles Dialog Box.

Tabs

Opens the Tabs dialog box, which is used to change the text tabbing of selected text in the document.

Tabs Dialog Box.

Image

Opens the Image dialog box, which is used to change the format and text wrapping of a selected image in the document.


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Image Dialog Box.

Language

Opens the Language dialog box, which is used to change the language used in the document.


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Language Dialog Box.

Table Menu

The commands in this men are used for constructing a Table within the document.

Insert Table

This command opens the following dialog box from which a new Table can be defined and inserted into the document at the current cursor position.


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Table Dialog Box.

All of the remaining commands in this menu are used for editing a Table after it has been inserted into the document.

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Glossary

A Acoustic Source: A group of Points on an Acoustic Surface containing measurements

from an identified noise source. Sources are used for Source Ranking of acoustic data. Source names are entered in the Acoustic Source column in the Traces or Shapes spreadsheet.

Acoustic Surface: A special type of SubStructure represented by a grid of measurement Points. Each measurement Point has a surrounding area and surface normal. Acoustic Surfaces are created with the Drawing Assistant.

Active Graph: Either the upper or lower Traces in the graphics area on the left side of the Acquisition window. The upper or lower Traces are made active by clicking on them, or by executing Display | Active Graph in the Acquisition window.

Active Traces: The Acquisition window displays upper & lower Traces in its graphics area. The upper Traces are time domain data acquired from the front end. The lower Traces are time or frequency domain measurements calculated from the upper Traces. The Display | Active Graph command toggles the active Traces between the upper & lower Traces.

Active View: One of the four Views in the Structure window graphics area. Drawing operations like Move, Rotate and Resize are performed in the active View. A View is made active by clicking on it, or by executing on of the Display | View commands.

Animation Equation: All animation is created in a Structure window by evaluating the Animation equations at each Point on a structure model. Each animation equation defines which measurements (M#s) are used to animate a Point in a direction. Animation equations are displayed on tabs above the Points spreadsheet by executing Edit | Animation Equations | Equation Editor in the Structure window.

Animation Frame: Animation is created by displaying still pictures (frames) in rapid succession in a Structure window. The animation can be paused and stepped through the frames by using the Animate | Step commands.

Animation Source: Any Data Block, Shape Table, or Acquisition window that is open in the Work Area. The current Animation Source is displayed in the Animation Source list on the Toolbar in the Structure window. During animation, M# data from the current Animation Source is animated using the Animation equations for each Point on the structure model. During a Comparison display, two Animation Sources are used.

Auto spectrum: An Auto Spectrum is calculated by multiplying a Fourier spectrum by its complex conjugate. The Auto spectrum has magnitude only. Its phase is zero. An Auto spectrum can have either Linear (RMS) units or Power (MS) units.


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B Band Cursor: One of the Data Block window cursors, represented by two vertical lines

on each Trace. Click & drag inside the band to move it. Click & drag outside the band to move the nearest edge of the band.

Bitmap: A copy of the pixels used to draw the graphics in a window. Bitmaps are used in all Copy to Clipboard and Print commands that operate on graphics.

Block Size:

C

The number of samples (time or frequency values) in the Traces of a Data Block or Acquisition window. The current Block Size can be viewed and edited in the File | Properties dialog box. Increasing the Block Size appends zero valued samples to each Trace. Decreasing the Block Size removes samples from the high frequencies or time values of each Trace.

Center Point: Any Point that is referenced in the Center Point column of the Points spreadsheet. A Point that references a Center Point is called a Radial Point. If a Center Point has a Machine Rotation Animation equation, all Radial Points that reference the Center Point will exhibit rotational motion about the Center Point during animation.

Closely Coupled Modes: Two or more modes that appear as a single peak in a frequency domain function. This occurs when two or more modes have resonance curves that sum together to form a single peak.

CMIF: CMIF is an acronym for Complex Mode Indicator Function. Peaks in multiple CMIF curves will indicate closely coupled modes and repeated roots. Modal participation factors are calculated along with the CMIFs, and are used in succeeding multiple reference curve fitting steps.

CoMAC: CoMAC is an Acronym for Coordinate Modal Assurance Criterion. CoMAC indicates whether or not two shape components are co-linear for all (or selected) shapes in a Shape Table. If CoMAC > 0.9, the two shape components are similar (co-linear). If CoMAC < 0.9 the two shape components are different for all shapes.

Complex Shape: A shape with components that have phases other than 0 or 180 degrees. During animation, complex shapes will exhibit a "traveling wave" motion. Complex shape components can be normalized (to phases of 0 or 180 degrees) using the Normalize Shapes coomands in a Strucutre, Shape Table, Data Block or Acquisition window.

Contour: A locus of equal magnitudes of a displayed shape during animation. Contours are displayed only on surfaces of a structure model. Data Block Traces can also be displayed in a contour format.

Cross spectrum: A cross-channel function, calculated by multiplying the Fourier spectrum of a waveform by the complex conjugate of the Fourier spectrum of another waveform.

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Cross-channel Measurement: A measurement function that is calculated between two different simultaneously acquired signals. Examples are Transfer Functions, Impluse Response functions, Transmissibility's, Cross spectra, Cross Correlations, and ODS FRFs.

Current Animation Source:

D

The Data Block, Shape Table, or Acquisition window that is currently used for animating shapes in a Structure window. The current Source name is displayed in the Animation Source list on the Structure window Toolbar.

Data Block file: One or more Traces of measurement data with a common time or frequency axis. Time domain measurements are real valued. Frequency domain measurements are complex valued. Each Trace has a unique measurement number M#. M#s are displayed in the Select Trace column of the Traces spreadsheet, and are used by the Animation equations in a Structure window for retrieving shape data at the cursor position in a Data Block.

DFT: DFT is an acronym for Digital Fourier Transform. The forward FFT transforms a sampled time domain waveform into its equivalent DFT. The inverse FFT transforms a DFT back into its equivalent sampled time waveform. If the time domain signal has N real samples, the DFT will have (N/2) complex samples.

Digital Movie: A Windows video file that documents the animation in the Structure window. Digital Movies are made using commands in the Movies menu. Each Movie file is played back in its own window. A Movie is not saved in a Project but is attached to it as an Added file.

DOF: DOF is an acronym for degree-of-freedom. A DOF includes a Point number & direction. If each measurement (M#) in a Data Block, Shape Table or Acquisition window has a DOF defined for it, the DOF can be used to create Animation equations by assigning M#s to Points & directions on a 3D model of the test article. Each Point number should correspond to a numbered Point on the model . Each DOF direction should correspond to a Measurement Axis direction at the Point on the model. Scalar data has no direction associated with it.

Drawing Assistant: A set of tabs in the Structure window that are used for drawing and modifying structure models. The Drawing Assistant tabs are displayed above the SubStructure spreadsheet by executing Draw | Drawing Assistant.

Drawing Object: A Point, Line, Surface, or SubStructure on a structure model. Each Point is defined by its global X, Y, Z coordinates. Each Line is defined between two Points, each Surface Triangle between three Points, and each Surface Quad between four Points. Each SubStructure is a collection of Points, Lines, and Surfaces.

Driving Point: The DOF (Point & direction) where excitation is applied to a test article. A driving point measurement has the same Roving and Reference DOFs.


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Driving Point Residue:

E

A modal Residue is the numerator term or the "stength" of a mode in an FRF measurement function. A driving point Residue is obtained by curve fitting a driving point FRF measurement.

EDS: EDS is an acronym for Engineering Data Shape, a general term used for any type of data measured from two or more points on a machine, structure, or acoustic surface.

EMA:

F

EMA is an acronym for Experimental Modal Analysis. During an EMA, the test article is artificially excited with either an impactor or a shaker. The excitation force and one or more responses caused by the force are simultaneously measured, and a set of FRF measurement functions is calculated The FRFs are then curve fit to obtain experimental modal parameters for the test article.

FEA Assistant: A set of tabs in the Structure window that are used for drawing a structure model and adding FEA Objects to it. The FEA Assistant tabs are displayed above the SubStructure spreadsheet by executing FEA | FEA Assistant.

FEA Object: FEA Objects are used by the SDM, Experimental FEA, and FEA Model Updating commands in ME'scope. FEA Objects are added between Points on a structure model. Their physical properties are defined in the FEA Properties window, and their material properties are defined in the FEA Materials window.

FEA Rotations: FEA rotational data is used for SDM and FEA Model Updating calculations, and can be displayed in animation by executing Animate | Animate Using | FEA Rotations. FEA Rotational data is animated using FEA Rotation equations. Up to three FEA Rotation animation equations can be defined at each Point on a structure model.

FFT: FFT is an acronym for Fast Fourier Transform. The FFT is an algorithm that transforms a uniformly sampled time domain signal into its equivalent Digital Fourier Transform (DFT). The Inverse FFT transforms the DFT back into its original sampled time domain signal. The FFT in ME'scope transfroms any number of samples, not just powers of 2 samples.

Fixed DOF: A Fixed DOF on a structure model will not move during animation. Fixed DOFs are defined by executing Draw | Animation Equations | Fix DOFs. Fixed DOFs are removed by executing Draw | Animation Equations | Fixed to Interpolated.

Fourier spectrum: A Fourier spectrum is the FFT of a uniformly sampled time waveform. The Fourier spectrum is also called the Discrete Fourier Transform, or DFT.

FRF: FRF is an acronym for Frequency Response Function. An FRF is a cross-channel frequency domain function that defines the dynamic properties of a structure

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between an excitation force DOF and a response DOF caused by the force. An FRF is defined as the ratio (response Fourier spectrum / force Fourier spectrum). The FRF is a special case of a Transfer Function, where the force is the denominator (Input) and the response is the numerator (Output) between to DOFs of a structure.

G Geometric Center: The average of the minimum & maximum coordinates in each

direction (X,Y,Z) of all Points on a Drawing Object, FEA Object, or structure model.

Global Curve Fitting: Global curve fitting processes multiple FRF Traces in a Data Block to obtain a global frequency & damping estimate for each mode in the measurement span or cursor band of interest.

Group:

I

Either Traces (M#s) in a Data Block or DOFs (M#s) in a Shape Table can be grouped together by giving them a common name in the Group column of the Traces or the DOFs spreadsheet. During shape animation, if the Animate | Animating Using | Groups command is enabled, then each Group is scaled separately so that data from two or more Groups can be displayed together.

Input, Output, Both: These designations are used for MIMO modeling & simulation. When an FRF is calculated, the excitation force waveform is designated as the Input and the response waveform is designated as the Output. These choices are made in the Input Output column of the Traces spreadsheet. When Both is chosen, the waveform can be used as both an Input and an Output in MIMO calculations.

Interpolated Equation:

L

An Interpolated Animation equation is used to animate all un-measured DOFs of a structure model. Interpolated Animation equations are created by executing Draw | Animation Equations | Create Interpolated. Interpolated equations are only used by animation when Animate | With Interpolation is enabled.

Line Cursor: A Line cursor is one of the three toyes of Data Block or Acquisition window cursors. It is represented by a vertical line on each Trace. The Line cursor is moved by clicking & dragging on any Trace. Also, just clicking on a Trace will place the cursor at the mouse pointer position.

Line Object: A Drawing Object, displayed as a straight line between two Points. Lines are displayed by executing Display Objects | Lines | Show Lines. All Line properties are displayed in the Objects spreadsheet by executing Edit | Object Type | Lines.


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Local Curve Fitting:

M

Local curve fitting extracts a modal frequency & damping estimate from each FRF Trace in a Data Block, for each mode.

M#: M# is an abbreviation for Measurement number. Each Trace in a Data Block or Acquisition window has a unique M#. Also, each shape component (or DOF) in a Shape Table window has a unique M#. M#s are used by the Animation equations at each Point on a structure model to animate the Point using data from the M#s in the Animation Source.

MAC: MAC is an Acronym for Modal Assurance Criterion. MAC indicates whether or not two shapes are co-linear (they lie on the same straight line). If MAC =1 the shapes are co-linear. If MAC > 0.90, the shapes are simlar (close to co-linear). If MAC < 0.90 the shapes are different.

Machine Rotation Data: One of the kinds of shape data that can be displayed in animation on a structure model. Machine rotation data must be assigned to a Center Point in the Z-direction. During animation, all of the Radial Points that reference a Center Point are animated with rotation about the Center Point.

Measured Equation: A Measured animation equation is a weighted summation of M#s that specifies which Trace M# or Shape component M# will be used to animate a Point & direction on a structure model. Animation equations can be viewed on the Animation Equation tab by executing Draw | Animation Equations | Equation Editor. They are also displayed at selected Points by executing Draw | Animation Equations | Show Equations.

Measurement: A Trace in a Data Block or Acquisition window, or a shape component in a Shape Table. Each Trace or Shape DOF has a unique M#. Shapes are displayed in animation by evaluating Animation equations at each Point on a structure model. Measured Animation equations are created by assigning each M# to a Point & direction on the model. Interpolated Animation equations are created by assigning M#s from nearby Points to un-measured Points & directions.

Measurement Axes: Each Point on a structure model has 3 Measurement Axes. Measurement Axes define the directions in which measurements were made at the Point. Measurement Axes are displayed and edited using the Measurement Axes tab, which is displayed by executing Draw | Animation Equations | Equation Editor.

Measurement Set: A Measurement Set is all of the data that is simultaneously acquired during acquisition. Simultaneous acquisition requires simultaneous amplification, anti-alias filtering, and analog to digital conversion by a multi-channel acquisition front end. Measurement Sets are defined in an Acquisition window. Cross-channel measurements are calculated using data from the same Measurement Set. The current Measurement Set number is appended to the DOFs of all measurement functions calculated using the current Measurement Set.

Glossary

185

Meshing: Meshing subdivides selected Lines, Surfaces, FEA Objects, and SubStructures into more Objects. If a SubStructure is meshed, all of its Lines, Surfaces, and FEA Objects are meshed. The commands in the Draw | Mesh menu are used for meshing.

MIMO model: A MIMO model is a Multiple Input Multiple Output frequency domain matrix model, where Inputs are multiplied by Transfer functions to obtain Outputs. A Transfer function matrix is multiplied by Fourier spectra of multiple Inputs to obtain Fourier spectra of multiple Outputs. Inputs, Outputs and Transfer functions can be calculated using different forms of the MIMO model equation.

MMIF: MMIF is an acronym for Multivariate Mode Indicator Function. Peaks in multiple MMIFs will indicate closely coupled modes and repeated roots. Modal participation factors are calculated along with the MMIF curves, and are used in succeeding multiple reference curve fitting steps.

Modal Model: A set of mode shapes that have been scaled so that they preserve the dynamic properties of a structure. Unit modal mass (UMM) scaling is used in ME'scope to create a modal model. A modal model is required for SDM amd FEA Model Updating. A modal model can also be used for FRF synthesis and MIMO Input & Output calculations.

Mode Indicator Function: A mode indicator function is used for counting resonance peaks (or modes) in a set of frequncy domain functions. The number of modes in the data is then used for estimating modal frequency & damping using the Polynomial method.

Mode Shape: Modes are used to characterize resonant vibration in structures. Each mode has a natural frequency, damping value, and a mode shape. The mode shape is a standing wave deformation of the structure at its natural (resonant or modal) frequency. An ODS for any time or frequency value is a summation of contributions from all of the mode shapes of a structure.

mooZ: mooZ is the reverse of a Zoom operation in a Structure, Data Block, or Acquisition window. It restores the full display of the structure model in a Structure window, or the display of all of the Trace data in a Data Block or Acquisition window.

MPC: MPC is an Acronym for Modal Phase Colinearity. The MPC has values between 0 & 1. If MPC = 1, all of the components of a shape lie on a straight line in the complex plane. If MPC < 1, the components do not lie on a strraight line. Lightly damped structures normally have mode shapes with MPC's close to 1.

Multiple Reference Test:

N

A Multiple Reference Test uses two or more fixed exciters to excite a test article, or two or more fixed response sensors. This is equivalent to measuring two or more columns (fixed exciters or Inputs), or two or more rows (fixed responses or Outputs) of the Transfer function matrix in the MIMO model.


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Nodal Line: A Nodal Line is a line of the surface a structure where all shape components are zero. The Nodal Lines of a complex shape will move during shape animation, while the Nodal Lines of a normalized shape will not move.

Normalized Shape:

O

A Normalized Shape has shape components with phases of 0 or 180 degrees. During shape animation, a Normalized Shape will exhibit a "standing wave" motion, and its Nodal Lines will not move. Complex shapes can be normalized (have their phases rotated to 0 or 180 degrees) by executing Animate | Normalize Shapes in a Shape Table, Data Block, or Acquisition window.

Octave: An Octave band is a frequency band where the highest frequency is twice the lowest frequency. Acoustic measurements are often displayed using 1/1, 1/3, or 1/12 octave bands.

ODS: ODS is an acronym for Operating Deflection Shape. An ODS is the deformation of a structure at two or more DOFs due to its own operation and/or applied forces. A time domain ODS characterizes the structural deformation at a specific time. A frequency domain ODS characterizes the structural deformation at a specific frequency. An ODS for any time or frequency is a summation of contributions from all of the mode shapes of a structure.

ODS FRF: An ODS FRF is a cross-channel frequency domain measurement that is obtained from operating data. It requires a Roving response and a (fixed) Reference response. An ODS FRF is created by attaching the phase of the Cross spectrum between the Roving & Reference responses to the Auto spectrum of the Roving response. ODS's can be displayed in animation directly from a set of ODS FRFs. Operating mode shapes can be extracted by curve fitting a set of ODS FRFs.

OMA: OMA is an acronym for Operational Modal Analysis. An OMA is performed when the excitation forces are not or cannot be measured, and hence FRFs cannot be calculated. Cross spectra or ODS FRFs calculated instead of FRFs, and are curve fit to extract operating modal parameters.

Operating Mode Shape: A mode shape obtained by curve fitting a set of output-only cross-channel measurements, either Cross spectra or ODS FRFs.

Orthogonal Polynomial: Orthogonal Polynomial is an MDOF curve fitting method for estimating modal parameters from a set of FRFs. Modal frequency & damping estimates can be obtained by using either a Global or a Local version of this curve fitting method.

Orthogonal Views: The Quad View in a Structure window displays four Views of the structure model, a 3D View and three orthogonal 2D Views (X View, Y View, and Z View). A single View is obtained by double-clicking on one of the four Views in the Quad View.

Glossary

187

P Peak Cursor: A Peak cursor is one of the three Data Block or Acquisition window

cursors. A Peak cursor is displayed on each Trace as a band with two vertical lines, and the Trace peak value in the band displayed with a red dot. Click & drag inside the band to move the peak cursor band. Click & drag outside the band to move the nearest edge of the band.

Periodic Signal: The FFT assumes that the waveform to be transforming is periodic in its transform window (the samples used by the FFT). Traces that are completely contained within the transform window satisfy this criterion. Cyclical signals that complete an integer number of cycles within the transform window also satisfy this criterion. If a waveform is not periodic in its window, the transformed signal will have "leakage" (or distortion) in it.

Photo Realistic Model: A Photo Realistic Model is a structure model that has digital photographs attached to its surfaces. Photo Realistic Models are created using third party software, and imported into ME'scope using the .OBJ file format.

Point Matching: Point Matching is the process of matching and re-numbering Points and mode shape DOFs between an FEA model and an EMA model. Point matching is part of the FEA Model Updating option to ME'scope.

Point Object: A Point Object is defined by its three global coordinates (X,Y,Z). Points are used as end points for defining all other Objects in the Structure window. Each Point has its own Animation equations that are used to animate the Point with shape data from an Animation Source (Data Block, Shape Table or Acquisition window). Point properties are displayed in the Objects spreadsheet by executing Edit | Object Type | Points.

Pole: A pole is the frequency & damping pair for mode of vibration or structural resonance.

Pole Plot: A graph of modal frequency versus modal damping estimates for several modes. Modal frequencies are plotted on the horizontal axis and modal damping values on the vertical axis. A pole plot can be displayed during Stability curve fitting, or from a Shape Table by executing Display | Poles.

Project: All work in ME'scope is done with data in a Project file. A Project file can contain one or more Structure, Data Block, Shape Table, Acquisition, Program, Report, or Added files. Only one Project can be open in ME'scope at a time. All of the names of the data files in the currently open Project are displayed in the top (or left) pane of the Project Flyout panel.

PSD:

Q

PSD is an acronym for Power Spectral Density. A PSD is calculated by dividing an Auto spectrum by its frequency resolution (the increment between frequency lines). PSD units are typically (g^2/Hz) or (g/(Hz^1/2))


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Quad View:

R

A Quad View of a structure model consists of four Views (X View, Y View, Z View & 3D View). The Quad View is obtained by double-clicking on a single View. Double-clicking on one of the Views in the Quad View will display only that View.

Radial Point: A Radial Point is any Point that references another Point in the Center Point column of the Points spreadsheet. If a SubStructure has one or more Center Points defined for it, and Rotatation is set to Yes in the SubStructure Object spreadsheet, then during shape animation, all Radial Points will rotate about their Center Points. Also, if a Center Point has a Machine Rotation Animation equation defined for it, then during shape animation, all Radial Points will be animated with rigid body rotatation about the Center Point.

Reference DOF: A Reference DOF is the fixed DOF in a set of cross-channel measurements. All cross-channel measurements should have both a Roving and a Reference DOF. The Reference DOF follows the colon in a measurement DOF = Roving DOF : Reference DOF.

Repeated Roots: Two or more modes with the same modal frequency but different mode shapes is called a Repeated Root. Repeated Roots can occur in many types of geometrically symmetric structures such as disks, cylinders, square plates and cubes.

Residue: A Residue is one of the three modal parameters (along with frequency & damping) obtained from FRF-based curve fitting. The model residue is the constant numerator term in the partial fraction form of an analytical FRF. It is also referred to as the "strength" of a resonance or mode. It carries the FRF engineering units multiplied by Hz (or radians per second). Each mode has a Residue matrix, which is associated with a corresponding MIMO model of the structure. The residues from one row or column of the Residue matrix define a Residue mode shape.

Residue Mode Shapes: Residue mode shapes are created following curve fitting when the modal parameter estimates are saved into a Shape Table. Residue mode shapes can be scaled into UMM mode shapes if Driving Point Residues are present in the mode shapes. Residue mode shapes are also used to synthesize FRFs.

Roving DOF:

S

The Roving DOF is the DOF that changes in a set of cross-channel measurements. All cross-channel measurements have both a Roving DOF and a (fixed) Reference DOF. The Roving DOF preceeds the colon in a measurement DOF = Roving DOF : Reference DOF.

Sampling Window: The Sampling Window is the time domain samples used by the FFT to calculate a DFT. The Sampling Window is also called the transform

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189

window. To create certain properties in its spectrum, a special time domain windowing function (Hanning, Flat Top, Exponential, etc.) may be applied to the samples in the Sampling Window prior to transforming them with the FFT.

Scalar Data: Scalar data is one of the kinds of shape data that can be displayed in animation on a structure model. Scalar data has no direction associated with it. Examples of Scalar data include Sound Pressure Level (SPL), Sound Power, temperature, and pressure. Scalar data is animated on a structure model using color contours on surfaces.

SDI: SDI is an Acronym for Shape Difference Indicator. SDI indicates whether two shapes have shape components with the same or different values in them. SDI values range between 0 & 1. If SDI =1.0 the shapes have identical shape components. If SDI < 1.0 the shapes have different shape components.

Shape: A Shape consists of two or more measured or calculated values at DOFs on a structure or acoustic surface. Specific types of shapes are an Operating Deflection Shape (ODS ), mode shape, acoustic shape, and Engineering Data Shape (EDS). Shape components can be Translational, Rotational, or Scalar. For correct shape animation, all shape components must have correct magnitude & phase values relative to one another.

Shape Interpolation: Shape components for each Point & direction on a structure can be Measured, Fixed or Interpolated. During animation, the shape components of Interpolated DOFs are calculated by evaluating Interpolated Animation equations. Interpolated Equations are created using neighboring Measured or Fixed DOFs. Interpolated Animation equations are created by executing Draw | Animation Equations | Create Interpolated.

Shape Table file: A Shape Table is a file for storing shapes. An ME'scope Project file can contain multiple Shape Tables. A shape is a spatial description of data measured or calculated for two or more Points or DOFs on a structure or Acoustic surface. Shapes can be imported from an external source, saved from an Animation Source, saved from the Structure window during animation, or created by saving modal parameter estimates into a Shape Table.

Sine Dwell: Sine Dwell in one of the three types of shape animation in ME'scope. During Sine Dwell animation, the displayed shape is animated by multiplying it by sine wave values.

Single Reference Test: A Single Reference test uses a single fixed exciter or a single fixed response transducer during the test. If the exciter is fixed, the roving DOFs of response transducer define the components of the ODS's or mode shapes obtained from the measurements. If a fixed response transducer is used, the DOFs of the roving exciter define the components of the ODS's or mode shapes. A Single Reference test is equivalent to measuring one row or one column of the FRF matrix in the MIMO model of the structure.

Single-channel Measurement: A Single Channel Measurement is calculated using data acquired from a single acquisition channel. Examples are a Fourier spectrum or an Auto spectrum. If multiple channels are simultaneously acquired,


190

then their Fourier spectra can be curve fit, and valid mode shapes extracted from them. Auto spectra can also be curve fit, but the resulting mode shapes will not have correct phases since the Auto spectra have no phases.

SPL: SPL is an acronym for Sound Pressure Level. An SPL is a measure of the RMS sound pressure relative to a reference value. It is measured in logarithmic units of decibels (dB) above a standard reference level. A common reference level used is 20 μPa RMS, which is considered the threshold of human hearing.

Stability Diagram: A Stabiliy Diagram is created by pressing the Stability button on the Stability curve fitting tab. It is a graph of modal frequency & damping estimates for multiple curve fitting model sizes, from 1 to a Max. Model Size. All estimates that lie within user-specified tolerance limits are grouped into Stable Pole Groups. When the Save Stable Groups button is pressed on the Stability tab, the average value of the poles in each Stable Group is added to the Modal Parameters spreadsheet.

Stationary Dwell: Stationary Dwell is one of the three types of shape animation in a Structure window. During stationary dwell animation, each shape is displayed without any animation. Stationary Dwell is most often used together with color contours for displaying acoustic shapes.

Structure file: A Structure file contains the drawing Objects used to define a 3D model of a machine, structure, or acoustic surface. The structure model is used for displaying structural shapes in animation. Points, Lines & Surfaces are used for drawing 3D structure models and Acoustic Surfaces. FEA Objects can also be added between Points on the model. FEA Objects are used by the SDM, Experimental FEA, and FEA Model Updating commands in ME'scope.

Structure Model: A Structure Model is used for displaying operating deflection shapes (ODS's), mode shapes, acoustic shapes or engineering data shapes in animation. A "stick model" consists of multiple Points connected by Lines. A "surface model" has triangular or quad surfaces added between Points. A "texture model" has textures defined for its surfaces. A "photo realistic model" has digital photographs attached to its surfaces.

SubStructure: A SubStructure is a collection of Points, Lines, Surfaces, and FE Objects. SubStructures can be selected, moved, cut, copied & pasted like any other Object. SubStructure properties are displayed in the SubStructures spreadsheet. The Drawing Assistant is used to add SubStructures from the SubStructure Library to a model drawing. The FEA Assistant is used to add FEA Objects to SubStructures.

SubStructure Library: The SubStructure Library is a special Project file containing pre-defined structure models. The Drawing Assistant is used to add SubStructures from the Library to a structure drawing. Any structure model can be saving into the Library by executing File | Save In Library in its Structure window.

Surface Quad: A Surface Quad is a Drawing Object that defines a surface between four Points on a structure model. Surfaces are used for hidden line display, surface fills, surface textures, photo realistic models, and contour displays.

Glossary

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Surface Quad properties are displayed in the Objects spreadsheet by executing Edit | Object Type | Surface Quads.

Surface Triangle: A Surface Triangle is a Drawing Object that defines a surface between three Points on a structure model. Surfaces are used for hidden line display, surface fills, surface textures, photo realistic models, and contour displays. Surface Triangle properties are displayed in the Objects spreadsheet by executing Edit | Object Type | Surface Triangles.

Sweep Animation:

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Sweep Animation is one of the three types of shape animation in a Structure window. During Sweep animation from a Data Block or Acquisition window, the cursor is moved through the Traces from left to right, and the data at each cursor position is displayed as a shape on the model. During Sweep animation from a Shape Table, each shape is displayed in succession using Dwell Animation and the number of dwell cycles from the Animation tab in the File | Shape Table Options box.

Tool Tip: A Tool Tip is a brief description of each button (or Tool) on a Toolbar. If Help | Show Tool Tips is enabled, a Tool Tip will be displayed when the mouse pointer is hovered on a button.

Trace: A Trace is one of the measurement functions displayed in a Data Block or Acquisition window. Each Trace has a unique measurement number (M#) associated with it, which is listed in the first column of the Traces spreadsheet. These M#s are used in the Animation equations on a structure model to display shapes directly from the cursor position in the Trace data.

Trace Matrix: A Trace Matrix is a Data Block where each Trace Roving DOF designates the row, and each Reference DOF designates the column of the Trace in a matrix of Traces. Trace matrices can be manipulated using matrix algebra commands in ME'scope..

Transfer Function: A Transfer function is a cross-channel frequency domain measurement between an Output waveform and an Input waveform. A Transfer function is defined as the ratio (Output Fourier spectrum / Input Fourier spectrum). An FRF is a special case of a Transfer Function where the Input is a force, and the Output is caused by the force.

Translational Data: Translational data is one of the kinds of shape data that can be displayed in animation on a structure modal. Examples of Translational data are vibration and acoustic intensity. Each Translational measurement has a direction associated with it. Measurement directions are defined by the Measurement Axes at each Point on the structure model. Up to three Translational measurements can be defined at each Point on a model.

Transmissibility: Transmissibility is a cross-channel frequency domain measurement typically made from operating or output-only data. Transmissibility is defined as the ratio (Output Fourier spectrum / Input Fourier spectrum). Operating mode


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shapes can be obtained by saving the cursor values at a resonant frequency in a set of Transmissibility's. A set of Cross spectra can be obtained by multiplying a set of Transmissibility's by a reference Auto spectrum.

U UFF: UFF is an acronym for Universal File Format. UFF is a disk file format used for

exchanging data between different structural testing & analysis systems. Structure models (Points & Lines), mode shapes, ODS's, and time or frequency domain measurements can be imported & exported using UFF files. Typical UFF file name extensions are .UFF, .UNV and .ASC.

UMM Mode Shapes:

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UMM Mode Shapes is a set of mode shapes that have been scaled to Unit Modal Masses. A set of UMM mode shapes is called a modal model, and it also preserves the dynamic properties of a structure. UMM mode shapes are used for SDM, FRF Synthesis, MIMO modeling & simulation, and FEA Modal Updating in ME'scope.

Zoom: Zooming enlarges the display of the model in a Structure window, or the Trace graphics in a Data Block or Acquisition window. A Zoom is initiated by executing Display | Zoom, or by clicking in the graphics area and spinning the mouse wheel.

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Index

A

Acoustic Surface .................... 13, 39, 62 Active View ......................................... 80 Add Object ................................... 42, 49 Animation Equations .. 66, 134, 163, 164 Animation speed ................................ 89 Assign M#s ......................... 66, 134, 164 C

Color ..................... 35, 94, 115, 143, 155 Contours ....................................... 45, 94 Copy to Clipboard ...................... 34, 113 Cursors ............................................. 129 D

Damping ........................................... 114 Data Block Animation ................. 87, 137 DOF Generator ................ 108, 134, 164 Drawing Object ............................. 42, 50 E

Exponential Window ......................... 114 F

Fixed Point ......................................... 62 G

Group ................................................. 49 I

Icon .................................................... 40 Import ................................................. 17 Interpolated Point ............................... 62 L

Lines ................................................... 44 M

Measured Point .................................. 62

Meshing .............................................. 80 Mouse Operations .............................. 28 P

Pan ............................................... 57, 58 Paste .................................................. 53 Perspective ........................................ 58 Points ..................................... 40, 62, 74 Print .................................... 34, 114, 155 Q

Quad View .......................................... 80 R

Resize ................................................ 58 Rotate ..................................... 28, 58, 80 S

Selection Box ..................................... 50 Shape

DOFs spreadsheet .......... 62, 163, 164 Shape Animation .......... 137, 163, 164 Shapes spreadsheet ..................... 164

Sort ................................... 121, 158, 160 SPD .................................................... 35 SubStructure .................... 47, 72, 76, 80 Surface Area ...................................... 45 T

Traces spreadsheet.................. 104, 114 U

UFF .............................. 17, 32, 110, 154 V

View Control ....................................... 58 W

Work Area ...................................... 6, 39


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Z Zoom .............................. 28, 57, 58, 131

Documents

ME'scopeVES Reference Manual - Basic Operations