This paper describes the use of a micro-computer based data acquisition system for the collection and analysis of data from hydraulic component performance tests.
The first part describes the overall computer hierarchy for the hydraulics test facilities. The data collection system which was designed to be portable, is used for the gathering of laboratory data from performance test stands.
The second section covers the menu-driven programs and their usage by engineers and technicians. The options available include storing of test data, real-time display of hardware and software values, report generation and plotting. The various types of reports and plots available at the test stand provide a quick evaluation of the completed test.
The last part describes the post processing options available to the user. The data can be readily transferred to other systems for further analysis. This includes an office-based system similar to the data acquisition system and larger main-frame systems. The data can be analyzed using spread sheets, and powerful plotting and statistical analysis packages.