Histogram¶
Histogram statistics record the time-evolution of the distribution when a Histogram feature is enabled. The range and bin resolution are defined by the Histogram feature in the model tree. This output produces a tab-separated ASCII .txt file named Histogram_{DynamicName}.txt, where the dynamic name matches the feature name in the Model Tree.
The output file contains columns corresponding to the bin center values defined by the histogram configuration. Each bin represents a range of the underlying variable, and the values stored in each column correspond to the accumulated quantity within that bin interval. Unlike the Histogram Cumulative, these values represent a non-cumulative distribution, meaning each bin contains only the quantity that falls within its specific range. The sum of all bin values equals the grand total reported in the summary statistics. Each row in the output file corresponds to a new statistics output time and is appended at the Statistics Output Write Interval.
This data can be interpreted as a Probability Distribution Function (PDF). The magnitude of each bin indicates how much of the sampled domain lies within that range of the variable. Peaks in the histogram identify the most common values, while wider spreads indicate greater variability in the system. To visualize the data, the bin center values (first row) should be plotted on the x-axis, and the corresponding bin values (later rows) should be plotted on the y-axis. In this representation, the x-axis gives the variable value, and the y-axis gives the amount of the domain falling within each interval.
The index table below shows the statistics that will appear in the Histogram output file. Within this table, each statistic corresponds to a column in the output table which evolves with the time column. The units described are user-defined histogram units.
Tip
Users sometimes interpret histogram bin values as cumulative quantities. However, each bin represents only the amount within that interval, not the total below it. To determine cumulative behavior (e.g., “What fraction of the system is below a threshold?”), the cumulative histogram (CDF) output should be used instead.
Statistics |
Units |
Details |
When Appears |
|---|---|---|---|
Time |
s |
simulation time |
|
Binned Total |
Dimensionless |
total weight of items that fall within the histogram range |
|
Grand Total |
Dimensionless |
total weight of all items, including both items that fall within the histogram range and those that do not |
|
Lower Unbinned Total |
Dimensionless |
total weight of items that are below the histogram range start value |
|
Maximum |
[dynamic] |
maximum value, including values outside histogram range |
|
Mean |
[dynamic] |
mean value, including values outside histogram range, this is calculated directly from the data and not based on the histogram |
|
Minimum |
[dynamic] |
minimum value, including values outside histogram range |
|
Number of NaNs |
Dimensionless |
total number of items that have non-finite values |
|
Upper Unbinned Total |
Dimensionless |
total weight of items that are above the histogram range end value |
|
Values |
Dimensionless |
histogram values |