Auto-filling of Summary Result Tables of A&R Analysis

using MATLAB

By: Mehdi Mosafer

To purchase the software, contact following contact number.

Contact No.: +60 134041494 (Malaysia)
+98 9123721594 (Iran)

meytim@gmail.com
http://matlab1st.blogspot.com

Rev. 1.4, 2010

Introduction
After A&R analysis using OFFPIPE software, it’s required to prepare summarized
tables from the outputs. These summary tables are usually prepared in Excel. Numbers in
each cell of these tables are extracted from output files of OFFPIPE.
Considering the fact that the amount of output data is too much, preparation of these
tables is very time consuming. Usually, after each A&R analysis, about 50 man-hours
work is required to prepare these tables. For this purpose, the OFFPIPE output files
distributed between three persons and these three persons prepare the tables in two days
continues work, by visual processing1. For preventing of involvement of some persons in
such time consuming work and visual and manual work, reduction of preparation of these
tables, and reduction of possible operator error, a program is prepared which is doing this
task automatically. With this program, just one person involves the work and all tables
are prepared in less than 15 minutes.

Keywords: OFFPIPE, A&R Analysis, MATLAB

1
This is what IOEC pipeline installation dept. was doing before preparation of this software.

2
OFFPIPE Output Files Format
In appendix 1, some part of an OFFPIPE output file is shown. As you see, the output
of this software includes of some separate parts. Usually, its 1st part is the software logo
and commercial details, which also can be omitted, but no one do. Its next part is “Inputs
Echo”. This part can be omitted as well, but usually no one do. For the program which is
prepared, this part is required1. Its next part is the analysis outputs, which itself includes
of several series of tables, and each tables series itself includes of 5 types of tables.

Summarized Tables Format

In appendix 2, some part of a sample A&R analysis summarized table, which is
prepared in “Excel”, is shown. As you see, this table has 22 columns. Cells of some
columns are calculated by other cells data and formula. Columns No. 4, 5 and 7 to 10 are
from this type. Some other cells are filled using “input echo”. Columns No. 1 to 3 and 6
are from this type. Column No. 22 is known from analysis itself. Other columns are filled
using output tables data. This is the time consuming part of the columns filling, and the
program prepared for filling of this part of the columns.

- Formulas
Above mentioned formulas are different for different pipelayer barges. So, it should
be cared which pipelayer barge is going to be used for pipelaying; Abouzar 1200, C-
Master2, or another pipelayer barge.

- read from input echo

For input data reading, following reference phrases is defined.

The first ref. line indicates the Page Breaks which OFFPIPE uses for print paging of
inputs (and outputs). This ref. line is used several times. During data reading, whenever
the program reaches to a Page Break, abandons 4 lines after and search for “case” at
almost end of the 5th line, and hence finds the analysis case number.
The 5th ref. phrase indicates end of the input echo. Program till to this ref. line, reads
the data which are located after three ref. phrases two to four, and restore each type
together with its case number in a matrix. The number of analysis cases is found at the
end of “input echo”. So the 1st column of summary table is filled simply. Since OFFPIPE
considers previous case corresponding properties in each case which is not specified,
columns 1 to 3 and 6 are filled. See appendix 23.

1
If the “input echo” is not present, the program should be modified in such a way, that reads these
information from OFFPIPE input files, or they should be entered manually.
2
Two IOEC pipelayer barges
3
This table data is not real, and it’s considered so just to show a general form.

3
 After this stage, columns 4, 5 and 7 to 10 can be filled using formulas. Las column
(column 22), which indicates wave and current direction, considering the analysis itself is
known and can be filled simply. The remaining columns 11 to 21 are the topic of
following subchapter.

- read from output tables

For output data reading, following reference lines is defined.

The first ref. line indicates the Page Breaks which OFFPIPE uses for print paging of
inputs (and outputs). This ref. line is used several times. The program reads series of data,
up to end of file, and after processing fills remaining columns of summary table.

Data reading method

Data reading from OFFPIPE output files is not simple, because the data included in
these files are not in a particular format suitable for reading. Readable files are the files
which include numerical data organized in some columns1. To prepare the program and
read the OFFPIPE output files, MATLAB software is used. In a way that MATLAB
reads output files line-by-line up to end of file and each time compares those lines with
ref. lines which are defined in the program and based on that decides what to do. For this
purpose, each table data store in a temporary file and organized readable. Then the data of
this temporary file is read and after processing, the data which should be found, is found
and stored in a matrix. At the end, the data of these matrices are transferred to an “Excel”
file, in the format which previously explained. Some parts of a summarized table and an
analysis output table, and the relationship between the data of these two tables is shown
in the following figure.

1
This is not a general definition; it’s just for our purpose.

4
 Since each analysis includes of some cases, the tasks said in this subchapter, is
repeated per each case and output of each case is stored in one “Sheet” of the “Excel”
file.

5
How to use the program?
The program is written in such a manner that its usage is very simple. For this
purpose, first all A&R analysis output files should be stored in a folder. Then the file
“main” should be opened in MATLAB software, and the analysis type (Stress/Strain) and
above-mentioned folder address should be inserted in the specified spaces in the file and
save and then run the program. After running, this program generates an Excel file named
“Out” in the same folder, which the desired summarized tables prepared in its Sheets. A
sample is shown below; operator should only fill two highlighted spaces.

% main
close all
clear, clc
global AnalIndx
%-----------------------------------------------------------------------
%------------------------- Input Data Section --------------------------
%-----------------------------------------------------------------------
% PRINT PIPE STRAINS IN OUTPUT
% 1 for YES ------- Strain
% 0 for NO ------- Stress
AnalIndx=0;

% Output Files Directory Address

out_adres='H:\Mosafer\IOEC\AR\July13';
%-----------------------------------------------------------------------
%--------------------- End of Input Data Section -----------------------
%-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ARMat

Important Pitfalls
 For simplicity, all previous descriptions are for when the OFFPIPE output
data are based on strain. In this case, in the OFFPIPE model, the option
“PRINT PIPE STRAINS IN OUTPUT” is set on “YES”. In the case of
outputs OFFPIPE be given based on stress, these option in OFFPIPE
model is set on the “NO” and tables are slightly different. The variable
“AnalIndx” in above program is considered for this purpose.
 Before completion of the program running, the file Out.xls, which
summary tables are being produced in it, should not be opened; opening
of this file discontinues the program running.

6
Appendix 1 – some parts of an OFFPIPE output file

7
Appendix 2 – some part of a sample A&R analysis summarized table

8
Appendix 3 – a sample A&R analysis summarized table