MTS TW Elite - Manual (Page 41)

Variables Subtab and Variable Availability Property
Variable Definition
A variable is a place with a name in which you can store one or more values. Variable types and examples
used in the test include:
• Simple variables (also referred to as scalar variables) store either a value or a string. In the example
test, the variable used to set the rate at which data is acquired is a simple variable. It has a display
name of Data Acquisition Rate, an internal name of DataAcqRate, and default value of 10 Hz.
• Array variables store an array, which is an ordered collection of numbers or strings. You can refer to
individual values in an array by specifying an index. In the example test, the variable used to store
acquired load data is an array variable. It has a display name of -Load, an internal name of _LoadArray,
and a default value of 0.000 kN (array variables resize automatically, so you can disregard the default
value).
• Calculated variables are variables (simple or array) that include a mathematical expression. In the
example test, the variable used to store stress data is a calculated variable. It has a display name of
Stress, an internal name of _StressArray, a default value of 0.000 kN/mm, and a calculation of
_LoadArray/Area.
Variable Use in the Example Test
Variables are used extensively in the example test. While using variables is not a requirement for test
design, using variables significantly extends the functionality of tests created with MTS TestSuite software.
If variables were not used in the example test:
• To change the properties of activities that are currently variables, you would have to navigate through
the layers in the workflow and locate specific property fields.
MTS TestSuite | 41
Examine the Example Test