The computer—an aid for analyzing and processing creep-rupture data

Several systems are described in which the computer is used as an aid for analyzing creep-rupture data. In the CADCAPS system the basic test parameters are measured as electronic signals that can be used as input information for a small on-line computer. The data can be displayed as creep (strain vs time) curves or in numerous other forms. In our present systems data collection and data processing are performed separately. The data-collection systems include (1) manually collected data that are keypunched onto cards and (2) electronic transducer signals that are fed through a multichannel recorder to an analog-to-digital converter, punched on paper tape, and transferred to magnetic tape. In both cases large central computers are used to process the data to obtain tabulations and plots of strain versus time for each test. Several methods for storing and sorting the creep test data are described.