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RACELOGIC Support Centre

Coastdown Test - SAE J2263

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This page contains an overview of the Test Setup in the SAE J2263 Coastdown Test Plugin.

The SAE J2263 Coastdown Test plugin for VBOX Test Suite gives you the ability to complete a coastdown test to the SAE J2263 specification.

Ribbon - Test Setup

The SAE J2263 Coastdown Test has a unique Test Setup ribbon, from which you can configure the test.

VBTS_SAEJ2263_TestSetup.svg

Test Section

VBTS_TestSetup_TestSection.svg

Configure

Click on the Configure button to open the Settings window where you can define the parameters of the test.

Report

Click on the Report button to create a report from the current test results.

Maths Channel

Click on the Maths Channels button to open the Maths Channels window to configure unique maths channels. You can find more information about maths channels in the Test Setup section.

Save Settings

Click on the Save Settings button to save the current test setup and add it to the Saved Settings area in the Add Test window.

The test will also be added to the list under the Coastdown button on the Home tab for easy access.

Export

Click on the Export button to display a dropdown menu with the export options. You can export the selected results or line results to a .csv or a .txt file. 

Gate Section 

VBTS_SAEJ2263_TestSetup_Gate.svg

Add Gate
VBTS_TestSetup_GateSection_AddGateButton.svg

Click on the Add Gate button to add a virtual gate to the chart and map at the point of the cursor. Gates are indicated by green lines. The currently selected gate will be indicated by a blue line.

You can now use the gates to define start and/or end conditions.

Note: Opening a plugin (either as a new tab or overwriting an existing one) will clear all set gates, requiring you to redefine the gates before you amend the test configuration to set start/end conditions.
Gate Name

When you have added a gate, the name of the currently selected gate will be displayed in the name box. Click on the arrow in the box to see a dropdown list of all the added gates. The gates will be named according to the type of gate (if applicable) and the order it was added.  

Note: You cannot have multiple gates with the same name.   
Width

When you have added a gate, you can specify the gate width. The default gate width is 20 m.

Type the required width in the Width (m) value box. 

Note: If you change the gate width, the last used gate width will be used as the default width for the next gate. 
Rename

Click on the Rename button to edit the currently selected gate line.

Delete

Click on the Delete button to delete the currently selected gate line. 

Delete All

Click on the Delete All button to delete all set gates for the session. 

Export

Click on the Export button to export the created gate(s) as an .spl file. This file can be reused at a later date and with another VBOX product.

Import

Click on the Import button to import a previously saved or provided .spl file. When the file is imported, the gates will be added in the order that they were saved in the .spl file.

Data Column Section 

VBTS_TestSetup_DataColumnSection.svg

Add

The Add button adds a column to the Test Results area. Click this button to open a dropdown menu where you can select a channel to display in the test results window.

Channel 

When you select a column header in the Test Results area, the channel name will be displayed in the Channel box (the top box in the Data Column section). Some columns will have required channels and cannot be changed, but if you can change the channel, the Channel box will become a drop-down list with the available channels.    

Data column_SelectedColumn_DefaultChannel.svg

Data column_SelectedColumn_EditChannel.svg
Result Condition

When you select a column header in the Test Results area, and it is a changeable channel, the Condition dropdown menu becomes available. The conditions will depend on the test and selected channel.

Examples are:

  • Avg
  • Max
  • Min
  • Delta 
  • At Start
  • At End
Sort Ascending

The Sort Ascending button will sort the values in the currently selected column in the Test Results area in alphabetical order from A to Z.

Sort Descending

The Sort Descending button will sort the values in the currently selected column in the Test Results area in alphabetical order from Z to A.

Run Section 

VBTS_TestSetup_RunSection.svg

Select All

Click on the Select All button to select every run in the Test Results area with one click.

Deselect All

Click on the Deselect All button to deselect every run in the Test Results area with one click.

Session Section
Edit Data 

VBTS_TestSetup_SessionSection.svg

Click on the Edit Data button to open the Session Data window and add various vehicle and test information, such as:

VBTS_SAEJ2263_SessionData.svg 

Test

  • Test Date
  • Comments

Vehicle Data 

  • Vehicle Config Number
  • Licence Number
  • Frontal Area (m2)
  • Effective Test Mass (Mte) (kg)
  • Test Vehicle Mass (Mveh) (kg)
  • Aerodynamic drag coefficient

Weather Data

  • Ambient Temperature
  • Atmospheric pressure (psi)

Front

  • ID Number
  • Tyre Size
  • Manufacturer
  • Tyre Name
  • Pressure

Rear

  • ID Number
  • Tyre Size
  • Manufacturer
  • Tyre Name
  • Pressure

When in Offline mode, the Session Data will be saved into the VBOX file.  This information will be recalled every time the file is loaded into VBOX Test Suite.

When in Online mode, a newly created session will be populated with session data from the previous session.

To save time, you can import and export the session data for other sessions. When you have completed the Session Data, you can export the data to a .vbses file by clicking on the Export button in the Session Data window. The exported file will contain all the session data and can be imported into another session via the Import button in the Session Data window.

Help Section 
Help

VBTS_TestSetup_HelpSection.svg

Click on Help to automatically open an Internet browser and load the relevant section of the User Guide on the Racelogic Support Centre.

Note: This page will only be displayed if there is a valid internet connection. If there is no valid internet connection, a cached version of the relevant section (from the last software update) will be presented in PDF form.

Test Settings

If you are creating a new test, the Settings window will open when you add the new test. This is where you can define the test parameters.

If you have already added a test and you have it open, you can click on the Configure button to open the Settings window to define or amend the test parameters.

VBTS_SAEJ2263_Settings.svg

Channels
Relative Wind Speed

Specify the CAN channel you want to use for the Relative wind speed parameter. This is typically an Analogue channel from an anemometer.
 

Relative Wind Direction (Yaw °)

Specify the CAN channel you want to use for the Relative wind direction parameter. This is typically an Analogue channel from an anemometer.

 VBTS_SAEJ2263_Settings_Channels.svg
Trigger
Requires Trigger

Select this option to stop the software from reading false coastdowns (i.e. braking into a turn around point). 

When this option is ticked, the software will not record a coastdown result unless the trigger is active.

Releasing the trigger at any time during a coastdown will invalidate that run.
 

Trigger Channel

The trigger channel will be the channel input used for the trigger. Click on the dropdown arrow to open the list and select the required channel.

 

 VBTS_SAEJ2263_Settings_Trigger.svg
Analysis
Legacy Mode

Tick the box for this option to enable Legacy Mode.

This will force the software to use an older routine in the final calculations.

This feature has been included to allow the results to be compared to the lower resolution VB6 program developed by the EPA.
 

Constrained Analysis

Ticking the box for this option to include the known Drag coefficient (Cd) you entered into the session data, in the subsequent equation of motion.

If you do not know the Drag coefficient, do not select this option. The software will calculate the drag coefficient for you.

The constrained analysis option can yield better results in certain circumstances when the Drag coefficient is known.
 

Report Every

The final report will produce a table of speed vs Road load.

Specify the intervals at which these road loads are reported in this setting.

For example, if you set it to 10, the road load figures will be reported at the following speeds: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, etc.

 VBTS_SAEJ2263_Settings_Analysis.svg
Calibration
Minimum Sets

Specify the minimum number of completed sets (1 set = 1 run in both directions) that is required for the calibration to be classed as complete. 

Use the arrow buttons next to the value box to increase/decrease the value, or type the required value directly into the value box. 
 

Omit Wind Direction

The software will automatically calibrate the wind speed and wind direction and will not produce test results until you complete the calibration procedures.

Tick the Omit Wind Direction box to complete the test without completing the Wind Direction calibration.
 

Omit Wind Speed

The software will automatically calibrate the wind speed and wind direction and will not produce test results until you complete the calibration procedures.

Tick the Omit Wind Speed box to complete the test without completing the Wind Speed calibration.
 

Wind Speed Calibration 

When the Omit Wind Speed option is not ticked, the Wind Speed Calibration settings will be available:
 

Use Trigger

You can control when the calibration period takes place during setup. Tick the Use Trigger box to enable this feature. 
 

Time to use data

Specify how long the calibration period should last (in seconds).

Use the arrow buttons next to the value box to increase/decrease the value or type the required value directly into the value box. 

 VBTS_SAEJ2263_Settings_Calibration.svg
Gravitational Drag Correction

For test tracks that are not level, the gravitational drag is the component of the test vehicle's weight acting in the longitudinal direction.
 

Apply gravitational drag

Tick the Apply Gravitational Drag box if you want to include the gravitational drag in the calculation.

When you have enabled this option, you will be able to specify a gradient for both directions.
 

Track Orientation 

Select the orientation you wish to specify the gradient for. 
 

Direction Gradient (degrees)

Specify the number of degrees for the selected orientation depending on the selection in the Track Orientation option. 

Use the arrow buttons next to the value box to increase/decrease the value or type the required value directly into the value box. 

 VBTS_SAEJ2263_Settings_GravitationalDragCorrection.png
Conditions
Start Speed 

This parameter denotes the speed at which the test will start.

Use the arrow buttons next to the value box to increase/decrease the value or type the required value directly into the value box. 
 

End Speed

This parameter denotes the speed at which the test will end.

Use the arrow buttons next to the value box to increase/decrease the value or type the required value directly into the value box. 
 

Split Runs

To perform a Split Run, where the coastdown test is split into different speed ranges, you can click on the + button to add another speed range.

Click on the X to remove any additional speed ranges. 

 VBTS_SAEJ2263_Settings_Conditions.svg
Pass Conditions

You can specify a channel that can be used to easily identify if certain parameters have exceeded a set threshold. Any runs that have exceeded the specified values will be highlighted red to mark it as Failed. 

The pass conditions can be set so that the run fails whenever the threshold is exceeded, either at the start of the test, at the end of the test, anytime during the test or averaged during the test.
 

Channel 

Click on the dropdown arrow to see the list of available channels and select the one required for the condition. 
 

Min Value

Specify the minimum value for the condition. 

Use the arrow buttons next to the value box to increase/decrease the value or type the required value directly into the value box. 
 

Max Value

Specify the maximum value for the condition. 

Use the arrow buttons next to the value box to increase/decrease the value or type the required value directly into the value box. 
 

At

Click on the dropdown arrow to select the required time for the condition.

  • Anytime
  • Average 
  • Start of Test
  • End of Test
  • Gate X
     
Add

Click on the + button to add another condition.
 

Delete

Click on the X button to remove a condition. 

 VBTS_SAEJ2263_Settings_PassConditions.svg

 Test Results Area

The Test Results area is the area that displays all of the results from the current test. In this area, you can include/exclude results from the Chart area, display the average/max/min values and also easily identify any runs that have not met the pass criteria.

Every time you start a new test (via the START button on the dashboard), or load a new file, a new tab will be added to the Test Results area. This gives you the ability to switch between separate tests or files and compare runs from each. You can remove a session from the Test Results area by clicking on the X icon on the session tab.

Note: Whenever you make any changes to the test configuration, maths channels, vehicle dimensions, test units or session data, Test Suite will perform a file scan to apply the changes to the loaded files and update the Test Results, Map and Chart areas.  If you, for any reason, want to cancel this results scan, you can click the red X in the top right corner of the workspace. This will keep the updated settings but will not update the Test Results, Map and Chart areas accordingly.  
Rename File

You can rename a session tab by double-clicking the tab header. Changing the name on the session tab in the software will automatically change the name of the locally saved VBOX file (.vbo or .vbb).

Edit Session Data

By pressing the Edit Data button next to the name of the session in the Test Results area or on the Test Setup tab on the ribbon, you can add vehicle and test information to the session.

  • When in Offline mode, this information will be saved into the VBOX file, meaning that this information will be recalled every time the file is loaded into VBOX Test Suite.
  • When in Online mode, a newly created session will be populated with session data from the previous session.

This information will be included in the test report to make it easier to see under what conditions the test was conducted.

To save time, you can import and export the session information for use in other sessions (the entire range of data is exported, not just the visible screen).

Once the session information has been completed, you can export the data to a .vbses file. This file will contain all the session information that can then be imported into the open session information field.

Result Columns

VBTS_SAEJ2263_Results.svg
 

The Test Results area has the following default columns:

Run Indicates which run number the results relate to, with run one being the first run completed.

There is also a selection box that, when ticked, includes that run in the graph and into the Average/Max/Min/Standard Deviation calculations. Once selected, a coloured square will appear to indicate which colour this run is displayed as on the graph.
 
Note: If you are loading a file in Offline mode, all valid runs will automatically be ticked.
Time (s) The total time the run has taken.
Distance (m) The total distance travelled in that run.
Relative wind speed (Avg) (km/h) The average wind speed during the run. This will highlight red when the average wind speed exceeds 35 km/h as per the regulations.
Relative wind speed (Max) (km/h)  The maximum wind speed during the run. This will highlight red when the max wind speed exceeds 50 km/h as per the regulations.
Cross Wind Speed (Avg) (km/h) The average crosswind speed during the run.
Cross Wind Speed (Max) (km/h) The maximum crosswind speed during the run.
Slope (degrees) This result column will only be available when you have applied gravitational drag in the configuration, and it will display the degree of the slope. 

The software will automatically add columns based on any specified pass criteria.

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