In PLAXIS it is possible to import an accelerogram (or any time data serie) for a dynamic signal as a plain text file. The plain text file should be using the following format:

• on every line two values: dynamic time in seconds, and the corresponding multiplier value
• separate the values with at least one whitespace
• time values should increase with each new line. It is not necessary to use constant time intervals. Please note this related article about time steps in dynamic phases for a proper use of time intervals.
• use a dot as decimal separator (not comma)

If the time steps used by the dynamics analysis do not correspond with the time values of the accelerogram, the multipliers at a given (Dynamic) time will be linearly interpolated from the data in the file, see the related article. If the Dynamic time in the calculation goes beyond the last time value of the accelerogram, the last multiplier value from the accelerogram will be used as constant value for the remainder of the calculation time.

This can be used as a simpler alternative to import accelerogram data from a SMC-file.

Example data