Dymola 2012 Output Interval behavior - modelica

When I set the Output Interval of a simulation Dymola I expect to receive Number Of Intervals + 1 data points in the .mat file. This is not the case, why?
Reviewing the Dymola 2012 User Manual:
Output Interval to specify how often results shall be stored. It can be specified in terms of Interval length or Number of Intervals for the simulation. By default the results are also stored at discrete events.
I assume the discrepancy between expectation and what is produced has to do with the storage of discrete events. If this is right, how can I turn this function off?

In my version of Dymola (2015), there is an option in the Output tab: Store variables at events. Uncheck that box if it is available in Dymola 2012.

Related

How I could make a temperature sweep in comsol?

I make a structure using Comsol then I want to make this structure subjected to a temperature variation ( T(begain)=25C then a temperature ramp (100 C/min) till T=250C and it lasts for 30 min then another temperature ramp (-100 C/min) till T=25C ).How could I make these temperature sweep?
You can define a function (e.g foo) that follows exactly your desired temperature with time profile. Then in the place where you specify your temperature (whether it is a boundary condition or domain condition) you insert foo(t), t being COMSOL's exclusive variable name for time.
You can do that for other variables too, space for instance. The easiest way to define foo is through the 1D interpolation option. Unfortunately, I do not currently have a COMSOL license to check it but I think you can simply enter the time and temperature values in the 1D interpolation table, choose a name and the interpolant style and just use it in the later part of the program.
I'am simulating magnetic fields in time domain with moving coils. Time dependent solver is needed for the movement and for temperature ramps as well. I think that you can use something like this, T=T_start+rate_of_change*t. The t variable is available with the time dependent solver and you can simply write the equation I mentioned. However, I think that you need to use time dependent solver three times, one for ramp up second for the constant temperature and third for the ramp down. Set the times for time dependent solvers so that you can made the desired temperatures.
First t=0s->(225/100*60)135s
second t=135s->(135+30*60)1935s
and last one t=1935s->(1935+135)2070s
You might also need to use compile solutions steps as well to add these three solutions together. I can try to do this tomorrow and check it.
Hope that this helped a bit

Simulink model error

I've had to create the Simulink Diagram after this picture:
My answer is this one:
I've gave some values to a, b and c (like 3, 4 and 5), but when I try to run it, it gives me the following warning:
Warning: The model 'ex2_2' does not have continuous states, hence Simulink is using the
solver 'VariableStepDiscrete' instead of solver 'ode45'. You can disable this diagnostic by
explicitly specifying a discrete solver in the solver tab of the Configuration Parameters
dialog, or by setting the 'Automatic solver parameter selection' diagnostic to 'none' in the
Diagnostics tab of the Configuration Parameters dialog
Warning: 'ex2_2/Unit Delay' is discrete, yet is inheriting a continuous sample time; consider
replacing unit delay with a memory block. When a unit delay block inherits continuous sample
time, its behavior is the same as the memory block. Unit delay block's time delay will not be
fixed and could change with each time step. This might be unexpected behavior. Normally, a
unit delay block uses discrete sample time. You can disable this diagnostic by setting the
'Discrete used as continuous' diagnostic to 'none' in the Sample Time group on the
Diagnostics pane of the Configuration Parameters dialog box. "
and the output (scope) it's just a step signal...
I don't know where I'm wrong here.
You've built the model correctly, but did not configure it correctly.
When running the model as-is, what will happen is the following:
The Step block is a continuous-time source by default (it's Sample Time setting is 0).
Simulink sees that the Step is connected to the Unit delay block, which is guaranteed to have constant output during minor steps (unlike Memory blocks)
According to the documentation on sample times:
[...] Simulink sets [Fixed-in-Minor step] as either an inherited sample time or as an alteration to a user specification of 0 (continuous). This setting is equivalent to, and therefore converted to, the fastest discrete rate when you use a fixed-step solver.
Continuous sample time degrades to Fixed-in-Minor-Step rather than Discrete-time in the context of Variable-step solvers. Variable step size is used to speed up simulations (larger steps are taken when accuracy allows it), but requires trickery to compute, for example, the exact time at which the step triggers (the "Enable zero-crossing detection" tick box in the Step block's options). So, Simulink's best way forward in this particular situation is to convert the sample time of the Step block into Fixed-in-Minor-Step, which is propagated forward and inherited by all other blocks in the model.
This is usually an awkward type of sample time, which is effectively not continuous-time, but still seen by all blocks as such. Therefore, the inherently discrete-time Unit delay will complain about being driven by a continuous-time signal (your 2nd warning), and Simulink itself will complain about the complete lack of "real" continuous-time blocks anywhere, while being instructed to use a continuous-time solver, ode45 (your 1st warning).
As usual in software development: it's always best to be explicit, about everything. In this case, the simplest way out of this is to explicitly specify a discrete-time, fixed-step solver in the model configuration dialog. That way, the continuous-time from the step will be automatically converted into discrete-time for the Unit delay.
The block diagram you want to implement is a discrete-time system. Since there are no Ordinary Differential Equations (ODE) but only their discrete counterpart (Finite-differences equations), you do not need an ODE solver as the warning 1 points out.
In discrete-time systems you have to specify your sample time in order to approach to a continuous-time representation where every single instant t is built up by the discrete integer n and its progressions (n+1, n+2, and so on) as t = nT where T is your sample time; Simulink basically expects that you respect this kind of logic, then asks for a sample time. By default Simulink sets it variable which may lead the result "out of track". This is what the warning 2 points out.
Solution: In the 'Model Configuration Parameters' menu, at the Solver tab, set 'Fixed-Step' as Type. The pane will change with a field related to the sample-time (Fixed-step size); set then a Sample time in seconds different than "auto" (e.g. 0.01). This will solve the warning 2. Still in the Solver menu, set also 'Discrete (no continuous states)' instead of any other useless solver. This will solve the warning 1.

matlab script node in Labview with different timing

I have a DAQ for Temperature measurment. I take a continuous sample rate and after DAQ, calculating temperature difference per minute (Cooling Rate: CR) during this process. This CR and temperature values are inserted into the Matlab script for a physical model running (predicting the temperature drop for next 30 sec). Then, I record and compare the predicted and experimental values in LabVIEW.
What i am trying to do is the matlab model is executing every 30 sec, and send out its predictions as an output from matlab script. One of this outputs helps me to change the Air Blower Motor Speed until next matlab run( eventually affect the temperature drop for next 30 sec as well, which becomes a closed loop). After 30 sec while main process is still running, sending CR and temperature values to matlab model again, and so on.
I have a case structure for this Matlab script. And inside of case structure i applied an elapsed time function to control the timing for the matlab script, but this is not working.
Yes. Short answer: I believe (one of) the reasons the program behaves weird on changed timing are several race conditions present in the code.
The part of the diagram presented shows several big problems with the code:
Local variables lead to race conditions. Use dataflow. E.g. you are writing to Tinitial local variable, and reading from Tinitial local varaible in the chunk of code with no data dependencies. It is not known whether reading or writing will happen first. It may not manifest itself badly with small delays, while big delays may be an issue. Solution: rewrite you program using the following example:
From Bad:
To Good:
(nevermind broken wires)
Matlab script node executes in the main UI execution system. If it is executing for a long time, it may freeze indicators/controls as well as execution of other pieces of code. Change execution system of other VIs in your program (say to "other 1") and see if the situation improves.

Simulink From Workspace: can't use timestamps from matrix

I'm using the simulink block From Workspace to read in some audio data provided by a script. I have formatted the data in a matrix with 2 columns, the first is the timestamp and the second is the data.
In the configuration paramaters, I have specified Fixed-Step and Discrete solver. The Start time and Stop also need to be configured manually and don't seem to come from the data.
Also, in the From Workspace block configuration, I need to specify the sample time (1/44100) or I get a warning if I specify -1, to inherit from the data and then get strange sample times.
So, how can I get simulink to use only the sample times in the matrix and use the first and last timestamps as the start and stop time of the simulation?
You should be able to do what you want by doing the following:
Firstly note that your problem is by definition not fixed step, hence you cannot use a fixed-step solver, which by definition is ... fixed-step.
You must use a variable step solver.
Assuming your (2 column) input data is called simin then set the start and stop times to be simin(1,1) and simin(end,1) respectively.
In your From Workspace block set the sample time to be 0 (which should have been the default).
Also de-select the Interpolate data option; and set "Form the output after final data value by:" to zero (you won't be using anything past the end of your data set so this should be OK.
Then you need to tell the solver to take additional steps to those that it would naturally want to take.
Do this on the Data Import/Export pane of the Model Configuration Parameters.
Near the bottom of the pane there is a selection box and an edit box for doing this.
Note however that this does not prevent the solver from taking steps at other time points, it just forces it to take additional steps at the times you specify.
But because you have your From WOrkspace block to not interpolate this shouldn't be a problem either. You should put simin(:,1) in here so that the solver is guaranteed to take steps at the time points in your input data.
Note that if you want an input block that only samples at the time points in the simin time vector then the only way to do this is to write an S-function that uses the mdlGetTimeOfNextVarHit method to tell the solver what the next sample time (for this block) should be.

How to determine value from previous time step during simulation in Modelica?

How can I determine value from previous time step during simulation in Modelica?
I have equation Q=m*c*(Ts2-Ts1-Tr) I need to extract value of Ts2 and Ts1 from it.
Ts2 - is the value from time step 2
Ts1 - is value from previous time step
Ts is input signal and it has variations during the time. Each step
it has different value. In my case time step is 1s. Other values are
fixed.
Can I set in equation variable time?
For example:
Ts2 (start=time);
Ts (start=time-1);
Or it should be input inside this model?
regards Tymofii
This was addressed in a similar question already.
The key point is that equations describing physical behavior cannot refer to time steps. This is because there is no "timestep" in nature or the laws of physics and so the response of a system cannot depend on it.
You don't really explain why you need to do what you are doing. Are you trying to extract simulation results? Are you trying to correlate to experimental data? Or, are you just trying to solve a differential equation?
It isn't clear what you want to do. Please elaborate and we can probably give you some guidance on how to proceed in Modelica.
Update
Using values from a "previous interval" is fine. For example, if you wanted to sample your solution at regular intervals, express a "z transform" or implement a Kalman Filter in Modelica, you could do each of those very easily (for example, see the 'sample' keyword here). In other words, it is possible to store as many previous values as you would like.
What you cannot do is use the timestep of the continuous solver in expressing how your system behaves. The intervals you reference must be independent from any intervals that the solver is using.