Load Data to Model a Continuous Plant

A continuous plant model uses signal data that is smooth and uninterrupted in time. There is signal data for each time value. A continuous plant model uses a continuous solver (any solver other than an explicit discrete solver). The solver can be fixed-step or variable. The model includes blocks from the Continuous library in Simulink®, such as an Integrator block.

To load data to represent a continuous plant, consider using either a root-level input port or a From Workspace block. Using a From Workspace block can be useful when loading data to a port buried deep within a model.

For the signal data:

  • Specify a time vector and signal values extracted from a continuous plant. For example, extract from data that you acquire experimentally or from the results of a previous simulation.

  • Use any of the data formats listed in Specify Input Data. Here are recommended formats for the following imported data sources:

    • Another simulation — Dataset

    • An equation — MATLAB® time expression

    • Experimental data — MATLAB timeseries, structure with time, a structure without time, or a data array

    For structure data, see Specify Time Data.

Use Simulation Data to Model a Continuous Plant

This example illustrates how to use logged data from the simulation of one model in the simulation of a second model. For more information, see Load Data Logged In Another Simulation.

When using data from a simulation that uses a variable-step solver for simulation in another model, the second simulation must read the data at the same time steps as the first simulation.

  1. Open the ex_data_import_continuous model.

    This model uses the ode15s solver and produces continuous signals.

  2. To use the output of this model as input to the simulation of another model, log the signal that you want to use. In the Simulink Editor, select that signal, and click Log Signals.

    Note

    To enable signal logging, select the Configuration Parameters > Data Import/Export > Signal logging parameter. This model has Signal logging enabled.

  3. Simulate the model.

    Simulating the model saves the logged signal to the workspace in the Simulink.SimulationData.Dataset object, logsout.

    Use the Simulink.SimulationData.Dataset.getElement method to access the logged data. The logged data for an individual signal is stored in a Simulink.SimulationData.Signal object. The Dataset object created by this model contains one logged signal: StepResponse.

  4. Open the second model, ex_data_import_continuous_second.

    You can configure this second model to simulate using the logged data from the first model. In this example, the second model uses a root-level Inport block to load the logged data as input for the simulation. The Inport block has the Interpolate data option selected.

  5. In the second model, select the Configuration Parameters > Data Import/Export > Input parameter.

    Use the Simulink.SimulationData.Signal.getElement method to specify the StepResponse signal element:

  6. Specify that for the second model, the Simulink solver runs at the time steps specified in the saved data (u). In the Data Import/Export pane, set the Output options parameter to Produce additional output and the Output times parameter to:

    logsout.getElement('StepResponse').Values.Time

  7. Simulate the second model.

Note

Simulink does not feed minor time step data through root input ports. For details about minor time steps, see Types of Sample Time.

Related Examples

More About

Simulink Documentation

Support