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Summary of Contents for Olson Instruments FTG-1
- Page 1 FOUNDATION TEST GAUGE (FTG-1) System Reference Manual FTG-1 with FTG Software Version 1.2...
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Page 2: Table Of Contents
Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ............................3 Organization and Scope of Manual ....................3 Test Methodology ..........................4 HARDWARE ............................6 Hardware Component Listing ......................6 Hardware Setup ..........................8 FTG SOFTWARE SETUP......................... 13 Prerequisite Software ........................13 Software Installation ........................13 Software Updates .......................... -
Page 3: Introduction
A micro-USB-to- USB adaptor is included to ensure the device will work with different tablets/laptops. The FTG-1 device also has a built in BNC cable connector which is used to connect an accelerometer to the device. -
Page 4: Test Methodology
Test Methodology The SE method is a low strain integrity test conducted from the top (or upper side) of the shaft as shown in the figure below. Test equipment includes a 3 pound (1.36 kg) hammer (instrumented or mechanical), receiver (accelerometer and/or geophone) mounted on the top (or upper side) of the shaft, and a data acquisition platform. - Page 5 extrapolated to be near 0 Hz in the mobility plot. Conversely, an increase in shaft impedance is identified by an upward initial break for an SE reflector. When length to diameter ratio exceeds 20:1 to 30:1 for shafts in stiffer soils/bedrock, the attenuation of compression wave energy is high and bottom echoes are weak or unidentifiable in SE test results.
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Page 6: Hardware
HARDWARE The FTG-1 system consists of a few basic components packaged into a padded carrying case. The carrying case with foam insert stores the FTG-1 device, accelerometer, hammer and cables. A description of each of the included components as well as their connection and operation is included in the following sections. - Page 7 Microphone Adaptor Microphone Adaptor Microphone Adaptor Microphone Adaptor 1 1 1 1 To connect the Microphone Plug on the FTG to the Windows Device (as necessary). To adapt the USB Connector on the FTG device to a Windows Device with a MicoUSB port. USB- - - - to to to to- - - - MicroUSB MicroUSB MicroUSB...
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Page 8: Hardware Setup
Hardware Setup 1. Connect the Microphone Plug to the Windows Device as shown in the picture below. If necessary, use a Microphone Adaptor between the Microphone Plug and the Windows Device. (Laptops and desktops will not normally require the microphone adaptor.) There are two jacks on the Microphone Adaptor. - Page 9 3. Connect the Microdot-to-BNC Cable to the Accelerometer by aligning the pin on the cable with the corresponding hole in the Accelerometer and then hand-tighten the connection. 4. If needed, attach the female BNC Adaptor to the BNC end of the Microdot-to-BNC Cable by aligning the pin with the hole and gently connecting the two pieces.
- Page 10 6. Now attach the BNC Cable (or the Microdot-to-BNC cable) to the BNC Cable Connector on the FTG Device. 7. When the FTG is properly connected to the Windows Device and the accelerometer is attached to the Microdot-to-BNC Cable, a small green light on the FTG device will illuminate.
- Page 11 8. Put a small amount of coupling grease on the base of the Accelerometer (Lubriplate No. 115 is ideal but Lithium Grease or Vaseline is also suitable). Mount the Accelerometer securely on a smooth, clean area on the foundation top. 9.
- Page 12 10. The system is now ready to acquire data with the FTG software. The picture below shows the Accelerometer mounted on the top of a wooden pile with a Hammer ready to impact for the SE test.
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Page 13: Ftg Software Setup
Setup Wizard. Select “Next” as appropriate. Select “Yes” when prompted to confirm changes. Select “Close” to exit. The default location for the software installation is “C:/Olson Instruments/FTG” unless the user changes the location during the installation process. - Page 14 2. Touching the screen, flick to reach the “Apps” panel below. 3. Touching the screen, flick to reach the “Apps” panel to the right. 4. Select “Control Panel”. 5. Select “Programs”. 6. Select “FTG Setup”. 7. Select “Uninstall”. 8. Select “Yes” to confirm uninstallation. 9.
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Page 15: Data Aquisition
DATA AQUISITION This section includes instructions for data collection with the FTG Software. General Information about the FTG Software The FTG software is comprised of 2 different panels: the Filter panel and the Waveform Data panel. The Filter panel is collapsible, allowing the waveform data panel to be enlarged during data acquisition. -
Page 16: Se Data Acquisition
SE Data Acquisition 1. Turn on your tablet or laptop (with the hardware connected as described in Section 2.0) and select the FTG shortcut on the desktop. The software will open as shown in Figure 2 below. Within the Waveform Data Panel, the plot box shows the current time domain data. - Page 17 Set up Automatic File Naming: To set up sequential numbering of the files to be collected, select the “Setup Filename” option found in the Second Toolbar. This will open a dialogue box as shown in Figure 3 below. Enter the directory where the data is to be saved along with an alphabetical prefix and a numerical suffix.
- Page 18 Start Testing without Setting up Automatic File Naming: To start collecting data without using the “Setup Filename” option, select the “Start” option found on the Second Toolbar. A “Save As” dialogue box will open as shown in Figure 4 below. Enter the individual filename desired.
- Page 19 3. After selecting the “Start” option on the Second Toolbar, the system is now waiting to receive data (in the form of an impact) as reported in the “Status” field which is currently in “Waiting for Data” mode. When in “Waiting for Data” mode, the waveform panel will be green.
- Page 20 4. Using the 3 lb hammer, hit the foundation top next to the accelerometer. Note that the voltage of the SE data has to exceed the trigger level in order for the system to start taking data. The accelerometer will record the data and the software will display the time domain data on the screen with the percentage full scale of the maximum amplitude shown above the waveform panel as shown in Figure 6 below.
- Page 21 5. If the percentage full scale is too low (less than 10%), the waveform panel will be yellow as shown in Figure 7 below. When this is the case, you should reject the data and retest applying a harder impact. In addition, it might be necessary to increase the volume as described in Section 4.4.
- Page 22 6. If the percentage full scale is too high (greater than 90%), the waveform panel will be red as shown in Figure 8 below. When this is the case, you should reject the data and retest applying a lighter impact. In addition, it might be necessary to decrease the volume as described in Section 4.4.
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Page 23: Units
7. If the data is acceptable, select the green box (with a checkmark) found on the First Toolbar to accept and save the data. If the data is not acceptable, select the red box (marked with an X) found in the First Toolbar to reject the data. After you have rejected the data, the program will wait for another impact. -
Page 24: Volume
Volume The volume (or gain) can be changed during data collection by adjusting the green “Volume” option arrows upward or downward or by typing a new value in the “Volume” field found on the First Toolbar, as shown in Figure 10 below. Figure 10 –... -
Page 25: Operation Notes And Tips
Operation Notes and Tips If the equipment does not work as expected, the best recourse check all of your connections and make sure the green light on the FTG device is illuminated. Then reset the parameters, close the program and restart the program. If the FTG device is operating correctly (with the green light illuminated) and ‘no data’... -
Page 26: Ftg Software Analysis
FTG SOFTWARE ANALYSIS This section includes instructions for data analysis with the FTG Software. Start Program Select the FTG shortcut on the desktop. The software will open as shown in Figure 13 below. Figure 13 - Main Screen for FTG Software... -
Page 27: Open Data Files
Open Data Files Select the “Open” option found in the Second Toolbar. The “Open” dialogue box will appear as shown in Figure 14 below. Navigate to the .ftg data files saved earlier and select the data file you want to open. Figure 14 –... -
Page 28: Averaging And Record Inclusion
Averaging and Record Inclusion After you have opened a file, the “Status” field will report that you are in “Analysis Mode”. The software automatically displays the three records that were collected during testing as shown in Figure 15 below. Figure 15 – Time Domain Data Displayed for Three Records The square, black cross button on the First Toolbar can be toggled on and off between “Avg”... -
Page 29: Amplification
Figure 16 – Time Domain Data Displayed for Average of Three Records Individual waveforms can removed from the analysis by clicking on the box indicating the number and color of the waveform you want to remove. (At least one record must be accepted.) This is useful when a bad record is accidently collected or if the record appears to be outside the norm for the rest of the data. - Page 30 Figure 17.a – Averaged Time Domain Data without Amplification Figure 17.b – Averaged Time Domain Data with Amplification...
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Page 31: Identify Shaft Depth
Identify Shaft Depth SE data is analyzed by picking the troughs in the wave form. The first trough representing the initial impact should be selected, along with the subsequent trough deemed to represent the shaft bottom (or other significant reflection). Based on these picks, the shaft depth will be automatically calculated and displayed at the top of the waveform panel as shown in Figure 18 below. - Page 32 filter is used, with the cutoff frequency set between 400 to 4000 Hz. The frequency selected will depend on the length of the shaft and the type of echo being examined. A low-frequency cutoff (1000 Hz or less) will bring out deep bottom echoes and eliminate ringing from rebar or shallow pile caps, but will mask out shallow echoes from necks or defects.
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Page 33: Concrete Velocity
Concrete Velocity The default concrete velocity used for depth calculation is 12,000 fps (3,657 m/s). This is an average velocity value for typical sound concrete. But sound concrete velocity values range from 10,000 fps (weaker concrete) to 14,000 fps (strong concrete). If the velocity needs to be modified, simply enter the new velocity value in the “Vel”... -
Page 34: Open Next Data File
Figure 21 – Zoom Open Next Data File If the data filenames have a fixed alphabetical prefix and are numbered sequentially in the suffix, it is possible to scroll quickly through the data. Note that this is the normal way files are saved on the FTG. Use the buttons “Next File” and “Prev File” to quickly open the files, as shown in Figure 22 below. -
Page 35: Ftg Software Exporting Options
FTG SOFTWARE EXPORTING OPTIONS This section describes options for exporting images and a summary table of test results. Copy or Save Image After the SE file is opened, the time domain data can be copied to the clipboard for easy pasting into reports or other documents. - Page 36 The following is a list of tablet models that have been tested at our facility and are known to work with the FTG-1. This list will change over time so contact us at info@olsonengineering with questions and to report models you have found to work.
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