29.4.28 Applying SAE filtering to an X–Y data object

Use one of the SAE filtering functions to apply an SAE filtering operation to a previously saved X–Y data object (a collection of ordered pairs) to produce a new X–Y data object. For example, you can use these functions to remove high-frequency noise.

The SAE filtering operation performs two-pass, zero phase shift, second-order Butterworth filtering. The SAE filtering classes that are allowed in ABAQUS/CAE are 60, 100, 180, 600, and 1000, as defined in SAE Standard J211 (OCT88). The Visualization module in ABAQUS/CAE uses the Signal Analysis Software obtained from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). For more information, see the documentation for the Signal Analysis Software installation kit (http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/software/signal-analysis/index.htm) on the NHTSA web site.

ABAQUS/CAE provides the following two types of SAE filtering functions:

Your X–Y data object must have a constant time step for it to be filtered. If the time step is not constant, ABAQUS/CAE computes additional points at constant intervals by interpolation. The constant time step for SAE filtering is defined by the smallest time step in the X–Y data object to be filtered.

Figure 29–21 illustrates the type of X–Y plot that can be produced using the saeGeneralFilter operation.

Figure 29–21 X–Y plot produced using the saeGeneralFilter operation.

The saeGeneralFilter function requires two arguments: the name of the X–Y data object and the cut-off frequency, which is the frequency above which the filter attenuates at least half of the input signal. The class-specific filters also require two arguments: the name of the X–Y data object and the time scale factor (TSF), which is a multiplier for the X-values of the data set being filtered. For example, a value of 1 indicates a time scale of seconds, and a value of 0.001 indicates a time scale of milliseconds.

A description of the optional arguments follows:

ABAQUS/CAE refers to the values in the table below to determine the cut-off frequency multiplier (CM) for the class-specific SAE filter operators.


SAE classCut-off frequency multiplier (CM)
60100
100165
180300
6001000
10001650

ABAQUS/CAE then calculates the cut-off frequency using the cut-off frequency multiplier and the user-specified time scale factor (TSF), as follows:

To apply SAE filtering to an X–Y data object:

  1. Locate the Operate on XY Data dialog box.

    From the main menu bar, select ToolsXY DataCreate. Click Operate on XY data in the dialog box that appears; then click Continue. The Operate on XY Data dialog box appears.

  2. From the Operators listed, click saeGeneralFilter(X,F) for general SAE filtering or click one of the class-specific SAE filter functions.

    Your choice of filtering function appears in the expression window.

  3. From the XY Data choices, click the name of the X–Y data object on which to operate and click Add to Expression. You can choose from all X–Y data objects previously saved within this session (listed alphabetically in the XY Data field).

    The X–Y data object name appears within the function parentheses in the expression window.

  4. If you selected saeGeneralFilter(X,F), position the cursor in the expression window and enter a value for the cut-off frequency.

  5. If you selected a class-specific SAE filter, position the cursor in the expression window and enter a value for the time scale factor.

  6. To continue to build your expression, position the cursor in the expression window and type in or select the functions, operators, and X–Y data you want to include.

  7. To evaluate and display your expression, click Plot Expression.

  8. To save your new X–Y data object, click Save As and then provide a name in the dialog box that appears.

    Saving your data object makes it available for future operations within this session and for inclusion in X–Y plots containing multiple data objects.

  9. When you are finished, click Cancel to close the dialog box.


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