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Import measured data from a testing machine

Goal: bring the force and travel a real testing machine recorded into the bending lab.

Prepare the CSV file​

Testing machines (for example from Zwick/Roell or Instron) usually give you an Excel workbook. Save each test as its own CSV file:

  1. Open the workbook in Excel and click the tab of the test you want, for example Stahl E235. Excel only saves the open tab.
  2. Choose File > Save As, and CSV UTF-8 (*.csv) or CSV (Comma delimited) (*.csv).
  3. Repeat for each tab you need.

German and international Excel versions both work. The importer recognises semicolons and decimal commas.

Steps​

  1. Open ALF > Content Creation > Mesh Deformation > Import Bending CSV Series (3-Point or 4-Point). You can also press Import Four-Point CSV Series… in step 2 of Author Bending Apparatus.

  2. In step 1 File & Format:

    • Press Browse… and choose the CSV file.
    • Leave Delimiter / Separator, Number Format and Character Encoding on Auto-detect.
    • Set Header Row to the row with the column names, and First Data Row to the first row with numbers. For example, if row 1 is a title, row 2 the column names and row 3 the units, set 2 and 4.
    • Check the Table Preview below. If the columns look wrong, try Auto-Fix: Switch Delimiter.

  3. In step 2 Channel Mapping & Validation:

    • Choose the Bending Experiment: four-point or three-point.
    • Choose which column holds the Force Channel (N) and the Travel / Deflection (mm). Stress and strain columns are optional.
    • Fill in the specimen: Material Name, Support Span L, Loading Arm a (four-point only), Specimen Width b, Height h and Total Specimen Length, all in metres.
    • Check the summary: peak force, maximum travel and number of rows. Warnings tell you if something doesn't add up.

  4. In step 3 Preview & Import:

    • Under Scene Bending Apparatus (optional), choose the lab to use the data in.
    • Press Import & Create Experimental Series Asset.
    • Press Assign to Scene Apparatus.

  5. Save the scene.

Result​

The lab shows the measured test. The data is saved in Assets/ALF/LocalSimulationData/FourPointBending/<material>, on your computer only.

Good to know​

  • Dimensions are in metres in this window: a 10 mm specimen is 0.01.
  • Several materials: import each CSV file separately, with its own material name.