time history "read from" file format

hello,
anyone knows the file format to be used in the time history "TIME-FORCE" curve input dialog?

i try the file RELIEF in the "ProgramData\Intergraph CAS\CAESAR II\10.00\Examples" folder without success.
i try also a similar format without success.

There are no spectrum files in the Example folder. You may generate one from spectrum generator. It will create a file without extension but is sort of text file (ASCII file) so you need to pay attention to tabs / space if you want to modify and create your own, without going through the spectrum generator process.

DANB,
thank you, but ... what are you talking about?

1) in the example folder (C:\ProgramData\Intergraph CAS\CAESAR II\10.00\Examples, as indicated in CII help) an example file called RELIEF without extension exists (please check better in the folder, i'm sure you find it in all last installed version of caesarii) i've attached it here

2) the file generated from the spectrum generator seems not to be compatible with the time hystory "FORCE-TIME" dialog (neither with earthquake . if you want, i've attached the two file, try to read it in a "FORCE-TIME" dialog. i have no success (one row blank, and other errors)

3) please note... i'm asking about "TIME HISTORY", not "EARTHQUAKE (SPECTRUM)"

That file RELIEF in the Examples folder holds "force response spectrum" data, not time history data.
You can open RELIEF using Notepad. The lines that begin with an asterisk are comments. The data appears as two columns of numbers (delimited by one or more spaces), the first column is frequency and the second is DLF (force multiplier).
If creating time history input, two columns would be time (ms) and force.

thank you Dave,
sure that i'm wrong in something (I or my PC..)

In the attached snapshot there is the behaviour that I can get using the following procedure:
- got the sample txt and edited by Notepad
- asterisks are comments
- used two columns and spaces (one for time, the other for force)

I attach the file and the snopshot for the behaviour.

Please confirm it is correct that the first lines are blanked (i think not)?

First you need to delete all the existing rows, then import, however I did not understand why you want to import the time history table into a dedicated DLF table, I think that this can not be imported as you try (this create some confusions before, when I answered to you). You should invoke the other generator, the one that allow you to insert the time/force values (manually, unfortunately).

Lido,

Those initial blank lines, while sloppy data collection on our part, do not harm the data.
I would suggest starting your event with zero load at time zero and ramping up from there. Your initial "step" at time=0 creates a whole lot of high frequency excitement.

If you want to eliminate all of the predefined dynamic data as well as the example comments go to the Configuration and on the "Miscellaneous" dialog set "Dynamic Example Input Text" to "None".

When creating your own spectrum/time-history text files, space the two columns out with "spaces" - DO NOT use "tabs".

thank you Richard and Dave,
i try more that one time, i check i have NO TABS in the file, deleted all rows in dynamic first panel, start from blank dynamic, same result:
the first lines are corrupted.

please consider to try on your pc importing my file (attached in previous post). It has 0 time-0 force at first row and all spaces, no tabs...

otherwise, please share a good one example TIME-FORCE to import.

Try adding a few lines to the time history (T-H) display before reading in your data set. If you do not see all your T-H data in the dynamic input echo, do not assume that all your T-H data has been incorporated in your model.
As an alternative, you can have the program read your T-H data directly from the external file when you submit the model for analysis. Simply place a hash tag (#) as a prefix to the filename when setting your T-H data. For example, if I wish to bring in data from a file named TH.TXT, I would set my time history name to "#TH.TXT". The file TH.TXT must be in the model folder.

Thanks david,

It was a new info for us.
it would b great if you could provide more details on feeding in inputs from external files..