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Signals

ribbon-signals

The section Signals contains the many different types of predetermined analytic waveforms supported by EMA3D. In addition to the capability to load a waveform signal from a data file, EMA3D has the following waveforms:

  1. Gaussian Image 16 signal   Gaussian

  2. DGaussian Image 16   Derivative Gaussian

  3. Sine Image 16   Sine

  4. Sine Squared Image 16   Sine Squared

  5. Sine Damped Image 16   Damped Sine

  6. Square Image 16   Rectangular

  7. Linear Ramp Image 16   Linear Ramp

  8. Double Exponential Image   Double Exponential

  9. DDouble Exponential Image   Derivative Double Exponential

  10. Signal File Image   From File

  11. EMCEnvelope Image 16   EMC Envelope

  12. lightningsignal 16   Lightning Waveform

The buttons in this section are the same in both the EMA3D and MHARNESS panels, and users may select them under either tab.

Signal-specific information is provided in the links above, but general instructions are provided in the sections below for:

  1. Creating and defining a signal

  2. Editing a signal

  3. Other signal options

  4. Signal properties

Creating and defining a signal

  1. There are two ways to create a signal:

    1. In the simulation tree, right click Sources or Signals and select Create Signal. Choose one of the predetermined waveforms or the option to load a signal from a file. Click the blue question mark Help Image 16 next to the signal name to learn more about the signal and its parameters.

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    2. Within the signals panel under the EMA3D tab in the ribbon, select one of the predetermined waveforms or the button to load a signal from a file.

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  2. After adding a signal, the signal edit window will appear. For details on editing a signal, see the next section. If you do not wish to edit the signal close out of the signal window using the small x in the signal tab beneath the model window signalsx.

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  3. Both of the above options will place the newly-created signal in the Simulation Tree under Signals within the Sources node.

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  4. To add the signal to a source, click and hold the signal within the Signals node in the Simulation Tree and then drag and drop it on the source (e.g., on the plane wave). The signal should then be nested beneath the corresponding source.

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Editing a signal

  1. As mentioned in the prior section, the signal can be edited immediately after adding it when the signal editing window appears.

    Alternatively, the signal can be edited at a later time by right clicking the signal in the Simulation Tree and selecting Edit.

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  2. In the signal window that pops up, various parameters of the signal can be adjusted. These parameters are described in the table at the end of this page. Additionally, the frequency spectrum of the signal can be inspected by clicking FFT in the top left of the window.

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  3. To view the definitions of the variables in the GUI, click on them and a short description will appear in the bottom of the signal properties window.

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Additional signal options

  1. Right click the signal in the Simulation Tree to delete, edit, rename, copy or export the waveform:

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Signal properties
Signal Properties

Entry (may not be applicable to all signal types)

Meaning

Name

The display name of the signal

Time - End [s]

The simulation time the signal turns off. The default end time matches the simulation end time. Time - End can be changed only if the field Same as simulation is set to False

Time - Start [s]

The simulation time the signal turns on. The default start time matches the simulation start time. Time - Start can be changed only if the field Same as simulation is set to False

Time - Step [s]

The sample rate of the signal. The default step time matches the simulation step time. Time - Step can be changed only if the field Same as simulation is set to False

Amplitude (A)

The waveform amplitude

Frequency (f) [Hz]

The waveform frequency

Shift X (Δt) [s]

Shift the beginning of the waveform relative to t=0s. This parameter differs from Time - Start. In Time - Start the original signal does not change, it simply waits to turn on until the specified time. In Shift X (Δt), the signal is recalculated using the time specified in Shift X (Δt) as the new t=0s such that in the wave equation t is replaced by (t-Δt), and this signal starts immediately. So, for example, in a damped sine wave, changing Shift X (Δt) to a positive value will cause an increase in the initial amplitude as the entire wave is shifted to the right along the X axis. Note that all signals MUST start at 0 or the EMA3D simulation will provide a warning and fail when run.

Shift Y (Δy)

Shifts the waveform amplitudes relative to 0. Note that all signals MUST start at 0 or the EMA3D simulation will provide a warning and fail when run.

Auto-configure

Configures the waveform parameters to match the frequency selections in the computational domain

Alpha (α)

The waveform alpha parameter

Beta (β)

The waveform beta parameter

Time to peak (t0) [s]

Time at which waveform reaches peak amplitude

Duty Cycle

Fraction of period the signal is on (0.0-1.0)

Rise Time [s]

Time for signal to reach designated high value from low value

Fall Time [s]

Time for signal to reach designated low value from high value

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