Failure Diagram Editor

The failure diagram maps out the sequence of events leading to an items" functional

failure mode. This graphical representation shows a chain of causes, mechanisms and

faults that lead to a functional failure mode and is used to inject faults into the

system during failure simulation or failure mode, effects & criticality analysis (FMECA).

Definitions for failure causes, mechanisms, faults, symptoms and functional failure modes

can be found in the Help Glossary.

To open a component failure diagram:

1. Select (Right-click) an item (component, part or pair) in the system model
2. Select Failure Diagram from the right-click menu

[Image: OpenFailureDiagram.png]

When the failure diagram editor is opened, the user will find a circular icon

representing the component functional failure mode (output flow property) will be

displayed. This icon cannot be removed or changed unless the function, flow and flow

property of the item in the Function editor is removed or modified.

[Image: FailureDiagram.png]

Trivalent thresholding is the default failure simulation threshold set in MADE. This

threshold type assigns three possible states to a functional failure mode (FFM):

• Low (Flow fails Low)
• Nominal (Flow is Nominal)
• High (Flow fails High)

To determine whether the outcome of a failure mode results in one of these failures

states during analysis, the failure path (i.e. sequence of events) leading to a FFM must

first be mapped out in the failure diagram. This is done by connecting failure causes,

mechanisms and faults to the FFM. Failure concepts are defined in MADE using a standardized

taxonomy of failure concepts.