ASTM E2443-05(2010)
(Guide)Standard Guide for Verifying Computer-Generated Test Results Through The Use Of Standard Data Sets
Standard Guide for Verifying Computer-Generated Test Results Through The Use Of Standard Data Sets
SCOPE
1.1 This guide establishes a process for the verification of application software used to calculate the mechanical properties of materials.
1.2 This guide has two purposes: (1) it provides guidelines for creating standard data sets for verifying computer-generated test results, and (2) it describes how users can verify whether the calculations in their application software produce accurate, acceptable results. This does not ensure that the software will produce correct results in all cases. The verification is only for those conditions covered by the standard data sets. This guide uses the concept of standard “data sets,” which are made available by the ASTM groups responsible for each of the individual standards.
1.3 This guide defines the terminology, the format, and the process for the use of these data sets and how the data sets are to be used for verification. It does not define the specific data sets required to verify each of the application standards. Rather, such data sets would become a necessary part of the standard and would be classified as an adjunct in accord with the definition in section B29 of the “Form and Style for ASTM Standards.” This classifies an adjunct as any material that is required for use of the standard but is not practicable to publish as an integral part of the standard.
1.4 In Annex A1 there is an example of how such data sets would be made available for one example standard.
1.5 Because the verification data sets are contained in files supplied to the application software in the computer, this procedure only provides verification of post-test calculations performed by the computer system. It does not evaluate the data acquisition system, real-time calculations, or any other part of the software beyond the post-test calculations.
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Standards Content (Sample)
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Designation:E2443–05 (Reapproved 2010)
Standard Guide for
Verifying Computer-Generated Test Results Through The
Use Of Standard Data Sets
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2443; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
1.1 This guide establishes a process for the verification of 2.1 ASTM Standards:
application software used to calculate the mechanical proper- E1823 Terminology Relating to Fatigue and Fracture Test-
ties of materials. ing
1.2 This guide has two purposes: (1) it provides guidelines E1942 Guide for Evaluating Data Acquisition Systems
for creating standard data sets for verifying computer- Used in Cyclic Fatigue and Fracture Mechanics Testing
generated test results, and (2) it describes how users can verify E1856 Guide for Evaluating Computerized Data Acquisi-
whether the calculations in their application software produce tion Systems Used toAcquire Data from Universal Testing
accurate, acceptable results. This does not ensure that the Machines
software will produce correct results in all cases. The verifi-
3. Terminology
cation is only for those conditions covered by the standard data
sets.This guide uses the concept of standard “data sets,” which 3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.1.1 ASCII—American National Standard Code for Infor-
are made available by the ASTM groups responsible for each
of the individual standards. mation Interchange. Data supplied in this form is readable by
any computer system and will be displayed on the screen in
1.3 This guide defines the terminology, the format, and the
process for the use of these data sets and how the data sets are human readable form.
3.1.2 basic data—The sampled value of a sensor taken at
to be used for verification. It does not define the specific data
sets required to verify each of the application standards. fixed or variable time intervals. Each sample represents the
value measured by the sensor at that instant of time.
Rather, such data sets would become a necessary part of the
3.1.3 data set—A self-contained set of data consisting of a
standard and would be classified as an adjunct in accord with
the definition in section B29 of the “Form and Style forASTM preamble, specimen information, and basic data.This may take
the form of a printed document or a computer data file.
Standards.” This classifies an adjunct as any material that is
requiredforuseofthestandardbutisnotpracticabletopublish 3.1.4 derived data—Any parameter which is derived or
calculated from basic data.
as an integral part of the standard.
1.4 InAnnexA1 there is an example of how such data sets 3.1.5 expected results—The results accompanying the data
sets that are expected from the computer.
would be made available for one example standard.
1.5 Because the verification data sets are contained in files 3.1.6 item separator—A special character (delimiter) used
to separate items that appear on one line of ASCII characters.
supplied to the application software in the computer, this
procedure only provides verification of post-test calculations 3.1.7 keyword—A text word or combination of characters
that uniquely identify an item of information in the Specimen
performed by the computer system. It does not evaluate the
data acquisition system, real-time calculations, or any other Information section. Such keywords are defined in a preamble
to the data set within the standard in which they are to be used.
part of the software beyond the post-test calculations.
3.1.8 line terminator—A character or sequence of charac-
ters used to signify the end of a line of ASCII characters.
3.1.9 preamble—A text section describing the data set,
which standard it applies to, any critical information and
restrictions for use of the data sets, and the expected values
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E08 on Fatigue and
Fracture and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E08.03 on Advanced
Apparatus and Techniques. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2010. Published January 2011. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 2005. Last previous edition approved in 2005 as -05. DOI: 10.1520/ Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
E2443-05R10. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
E2443–05 (2010)
(derived data) to be found as a result of running the algorithm and the computer processing of data. This guide is specifically
using the basic data. This section of the data set would not be concerned only with the final section, namely the computer
used by the computer, and would normally be stripped off of processing of data once the basic data are acquired.
the data set prior to its use with the computer. 4.3 The principle of using data sets is that a standard may
3.1.10 segment marker—A column of data alongside the publish as an adjunct a set of basic data and expected results
columns of basic data which indicate different control sections that may be used to verify that software designed to implement
during the test, such as loading versus unloading sections, thecalculationsisperformingcorrectly.Theuserofthedataset
which might be needed by the algorithm under evaluation. inputs such data into their computer either automatically,
3.1.11 specimen information—Information about a tested manually, or a combination of both.
specimen, other than the basic data, such as specimen dimen- 4.3.1 For example, it may prove most convenient to input
sions, speed of testing, and any other relevant information that thespecimeninformation(describedin4.7)manually,andthen
are required in the analysis. have the computer read the basic data as a file. The user then
3.1.12 status—The status of the standard data set indicates starts the computation and compares the actual results with
that it has either been approved by the appropriate ASTM expectedresultssuppliedalongwiththedataset.Ifsuchresults
entity, or that it is unapproved. Unapproved data sets may be agree with the expected results within the specified tolerance,
posted and made available to users for round robin testing or
the computer algorithms may be considered verified. If not, the
other purposes, but results from the use of an unapproved data user must explore the reason for the difference.
set would not meet the requirements of this standard guide.
4.4 When supplied in the form of a computer-readable file,
the data set shall be in industry-standard ASCII format.
4. Description of the Use of Basic Data For Software
4.5 Preamble Characteristics—The preamble to the data set
Verification.
is a section of text containing at least the following:
4.1 In its most basic form, a mechanical testing system 4.5.1 Unique ID of the form: ASTM standard number to
which this data set applies, DSxx, where xx is the data set
consists of a test frame with grips which attach to a test
specimen, a method of applying forces to the specimen, and a number (revision year.) For example, E 1234-DS2(2005);
4.5.2 Title;
number of transducers that measure the forces and deforma-
tions applied to the specimen. (See Fig. 1) 4.5.3 Any parameters required by the algorithm, and the
4.2 The measurement system may be divided into three units to be used;
sections for the purpose of verification: the mechanical test 4.5.4 Short description of the content of the data file and
frame and its components, the electrical measurement system, what test conditions this data set is verifying;
FIG. 1 Schematic of a typical test system
E2443–05 (2010)
4.5.5 Details of the segment markers on the data file, if any; (2) Typical data sets more closely resemble the actual data
one might expect from a test, such as, non-linear curves,
4.5.6 Expected results (in appropriate units), as well as the
discontinuities, or other data characteristics typical of the
allowable tolerance (in %); and
standard test.
4.5.7 Contact information for ASTM International.
i
4.10 Validity Tests
4.6 The preamble is initiated with the marker ,
4.10.1 It is up to the Task Group or Committee responsible
and terminated by the marker .
for the Standard to create and recommend data sets that will
4.7 Specimen Information Characteristics:
adequately test the software for valid or invalid results.That is,
4.7.1 The specimen information section consists of a num-
if the software must be configured to catch certain things that
ber of rows of information essential for use by the algorithm
make a test invalid, the data set and expected results must be
under evaluation. Such information might, for example, in-
configured to test these validity checks.
clude the gage length of an extensometer, the dimensions of a
4.11 Expected Results:
specimen, or the test temperature. Each row has this format:
4.11.1 The expected results are supplied along with the
keyword (text), item separator, value (numeric), units (text).
basic data set and provide the correct, calculated (derived)
results that should be produced by the software.Also included
4.7.2 It is required for ease of use that the specimen
with the expected results is a tolerance band (+ or – a certain
information section contain only essential information for the
%oftheresult)withinwhichthederiveddatamustfallinorder
calcul
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