A personal computer based system to evaluate [formula omitted] by a single specimen unloading compliance method—III: Software

Abstract

A PC-based single specimen unloading technique was described in Part I of the paper. Part II demonstrated the applicability of the technique using two different materials: a nuclear grade pressure vessel material, A533B Class I steel and an alpha-beta titanium alloy. CORONA-5. In this paper are presented details of the softwares developed and used for experimental evaluation, data acquisition, transfer and analyses. Instrument control and data acquisition were made using an APPLE II PLUS personal computer in BASIC language in conjunction with machine language. Data were subsequently transferred to a VAX 1170 minicomputer through machine language and post-test analyses were made using FORTRAN. Since considerable time and effort were spent in the development and testing of the softwares, this paper, along with Parts I and II, provides sufficient details for adaptation to a personal computer based J-evaluation system. It is suggested that, since powerful personal computers are readily available and affordable, the entire evaluation can be carried out with a PC without recourse to a minicomputer.