1. Yes, you overwrite this file, but this file is really just a batch command to tTool telling it what to do. You are 100% free to rename this file as you wish, e.g. "custom_realtime1.ini",...2,...3 etc, if you prefer this method. You'll just have to enter the correct name in ttool.
2. Well, the thing is, new tests from ttool are appended to the existing .csv file, until you restart ttool or change the filename of the .tgm. So in certain cases, you'll need to be careful about what you paste into the realtime tTool batch test generator. For example, after completing the first 4 'initial' tests, the first 4 lines (5 if you include the headings) in the "CustomRealtimeTable.csv" file will be those initial tests, which have to be ignored for the other tests that you will have done.
3. I simply meant that it should be done prior to lateral / longitudinal tyre tests, etc. They are actually in the correct order. You shouldn't need to rerun any previous tests if you change the damping values in the tyre.
4. I covered static and sliding diffusive adhesion in a previous
blog entry. With it, in theory, we could simulate a gecko sticking to the ceiling (or if you put some really crazy values, a whole car). If for example, you had a contact area of 0.01m² and you had the maximum adhesion force (2nd value), of say 10000, under optimum conditions it would bond to the ground with an assumed force of 0.01*10000 = 100N.
5. Significant in this case would be more than about 15-20% in one direction or the other. So a reasonable range for this value would be 0.8-1.2, but I wouldn't take this as an absolute. Certainly the closer to 1.0, the better. In any case, if you have a working tyre, and need to use 0.6 or something, then you're still better to keep that value at 0.6 until you have a new working version of the tyre with a new lookup table completed.
6. Indeed the old guide is a bit lacking in areas. It's something I'd like to get around to doing. My intention is to release some minor fixes and improvements to the spreadsheets that were released previously, first. So yes, but it might not even be ready this year.
The video idea is something I've been wanting to do for a while. I need to look at my options but it's certainly something I would like to have a go in the short term.