force-vec

A python tool for processing diplacement/velocity CSV data

Features:

• The raw velocity has a 4th order butterworth filter applied to it to reduce noise. A corner frequency of 6 Hz is used.
• The acceleration is derived from the velocity
• Each csv is analysed by do_analysis(), determining:
  • the start which is the first index before peak displacement that has velocity > 0
  • the time when max displacement is reached, and the displacement at this time
  • the time when the acceleration is first at free fall, and the displacement at this time
  • the mean velocity and mean acceleration between the start and the time at which free fall is reached

Prerequisites

Before you can run this project, you'll need to have Python installed on your Windows computer.

1. Download Python:

   • Go to python.org
   • Download the latest Python 3.x version for Windows
   • Make sure to download the installer (not the web-based installer)

2. Install Python:

   • Run the downloaded installer
   • IMPORTANT: Check the box "Add Python to PATH" at the bottom of the installer window
   • Click "Install Now"
   • Wait for installation to complete

3. Verify Installation:

   • Press Windows + R, type cmd, and press Enter to open Command Prompt
   • Type python --version and press Enter
   • You should see something like "Python 3.x.x"
   • If you get an error, you may need to restart your computer or reinstall Python with "Add to PATH" checked

Setup

1. Download/Extract the Project:

   • Make sure all project files are in a folder (e.g., C:\Users\<YourName>\Documents\force-vec)
   • The folder should contain:
     • main.py
     • qt_plot.py
     • requirements.txt
     • run.bat
     • run.sh
     • input/ folder

2. Prepare Your Data:

   • Place your CSV files in the input/ folder
   • The output/ folder will be created automatically when the program runs

Running

Windows

1. Navigate to your project folder in File Explorer
2. Double-click on run.bat

Alternatively, if you prefer using the command line:

1. Open Command Prompt in your project folder
2. Run: run.bat

macOS

1. Navigate to your project folder in terminal
2. Run ./run.sh

Understanding the Output

• Processed CSV files: Found in the output/ folder with _output.csv suffix
• Plots and graphs: The program will display visualizations of your data