Support for Both Reliability Block Diagrams (RBDs) and Fault Trees (FTA)
Reliability block diagrams (RBDs) and fault tree analysis are related methodologies for system reliability modeling and analysis. When performing system analysis utilizing an RBD approach, one works in the "success space," while with a fault tree, one works in the "failure space." In other words, RBDs look at success combinations while fault trees look at failure combinations. ReliaSoft's BlockSim 7 software tool provides the option to use RBDs, fault trees or a combination of both approaches to model your system!
Reliability Block Diagram (RBD) Configuration Options
BlockSim's interface for Reliability Block Diagram (RBD) creation is the most intuitive, flexible and graphically rich in the industry, with full support for all types of RBD configuration. Simple drag-and-drop techniques allow you to build a reliability block diagram (RBD) for the simplest to the most complex systems. The software supports the following reliability-wise configuration types, used individually or in complex combinations.
- Simple Series and Parallel [View RBD Example]
- Complex: Complex configurations require a more advanced analytical treatment than a simple combination of series and parallel configurations and may be required for network system, failure modes and other analyses. [View RBD Example]
- k-out-of-n: Node blocks can be used to define k-out-of-n redundancy, where k out of n paths leading to the node must succeed in order for the system to continue to operate. [View RBD Example]
- Standby: Correct analysis of standby configurations requires the consideration of the component's life distributions while in active and standby modes, as well as the probability of switching from standby to active when needed. [View RBD Example]
- Load Sharing: For load sharing configurations, BlockSim 7 provides life-stress models combined with life distributions (derived from the ALTA software) to quantify the effect of the increased load on the operating components when other load sharing components fail. [View RBD Example]
Support for All Major Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) Gates and Events
BlockSim 7 supports all of the traditional fault tree analysis (FTA) gates and event symbols that are applicable to system reliability and related analyses. In addition, the software allows you to expand the modeling capabilities through the introduction of new logic gates to represent load sharing and standby redundancy configurations. [Learn more about Fault Tree Analysis configurations supported by BlockSim...]
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Fault Trees and/or RBDs in the Same Environment
Your BlockSim 7 projects can contain both fault tree diagrams and reliability block diagrams, together in the same analysis environment. You can even integrate your fault trees and RBDs in several ways, including:
- Mix and match diagrams by linking a fault tree as a subdiagram to an RBD or vice versa.
- Copy events from a fault tree diagram and paste them as blocks in an RBD.
- Automatically convert any fault tree diagram to a reliability block diagram.
Innovations to Save Time and Space in Your Reliability Block Diagrams and Fault Tree Diagrams
BlockSim 7 incorporates useful innovations to save time and space in your diagrams and also to expand the modeling capabilities. Options include:
- Subdiagram blocks can be used in both RBDs and fault trees to link diagrams as components in other diagrams. BlockSim 7 allows unlimited levels of encapsulation, which provides great flexibility to model extremely large and complex systems with subsystems, subsubsystems and beyond. [View RBD Example]
- Multi blocks can be used to represent more than one component, configured in series or in parallel, with a single block in the RBD. These blocks allow you to save time and space when creating the diagram. [View RBD Example]
- Mirrored blocks can be used to represent the same component in more than one location within the diagram. This can be useful to simulate bi-directional paths within the RBD. [View RBD Example]
Attractive, Customizable Graphical Display
You can fully customize the colors, shapes, sizes, fonts and other graphical properties of each reliability block diagram (RBD) that you create with BlockSim 7. You can print these sophisticated and attractive diagrams directly from the software or export/copy the diagram as an enhanced metafile graphic that can be used in other reports and presentations.
