WF41: Entering Cycle Based Reliability Values

Pre-Requisites

• A. RAM Module: RAM module is required for most reliability analysis capabilities in MADE.
• B. FBD Model: Required to select model items and enter reliability data.
• C. Mission Profile: Required in order to establish timeframe of FCM reliability analysis.

Detailed Steps

1. Open a MADE project.
2. If new Unit Life Parameter is required, navigate to Main Menu: Modeling > Unit Life Parameter. Otherwise, proceed to Step 4.
3. Click the green '+' button. Enter details of the parameter (Name, Description, Unit of Measure, Symbol). Click 'Create'.
4. Open Criticality & Reliability editor (Menu: Analyses > Criticality & Reliability editor).
5. Select a component or a part through the indentured system tree shown.
6. Assign the item's Unit Life failure distribution type using the dropdown box (options: Exponential, Exponential (Unit Life), Weibull, Weibull (Unit Life), Markov).
7. Assign the desired Unit Life parameter for the selected item using the dropdown box.
8. Using the sliders, configure the Characteristic Life and Slope terms of the parameter. If exponential distribution, adjust MXTF/Part failure rate.
9. Click the symbol next to 'Number of Units' or 'Rate of Occurrence' to enter the Mission Profile Definition. Alternatively, Menu: Modeling > Mission Profile Definition. In the 'Unit Life Configuration' tab, set the unit life parameter values for each component.
   • Decision: All Unit Life Accrual Defined? If No, return to Step 2 (Open Unit Life Parameters Dialogue) or Step 4 (Open Criticality & Reliability Editor) as applicable. If Yes, Cycle Based Reliability is Configured.

Screen-by-screen detail (from embedded screenshots)

• Step 1: Open MADE Project — Use View > Open Module > RAM to open the RAM module.
• Step 2: Open Unit Life Parameters Dialogue — Menu: Modeling > Unit Life Parameter.
• Step 3: Create New Unit Life Parameter — In "Manage Unit Life Parameters" dialog, click the green '+', fill in Name (e.g. "Cycles"), Description (e.g. "Number of cycles of operation."), Unit of Measure (e.g. "C"), Symbol (e.g. "C"). Click Create, then OK. Example table result: Symbol "C" / Units "C" / Name "Cycles"; Symbol "D" / Units "km" / Name "Distance".
• Step 4: Open Criticality & Reliability Editor — Menu: Analyses > Criticality & Reliability Editor. Item/Failure Selection dropdown offers "Criticality" or "Reliability" — select "Reliability". The editor allows editing Reliability for: Component, Part, Function Flow, or Failure - Fault.
• Step 5: Select Model Item — Use the Item/Failure Selection tree (e.g. select "Control Unit" under Power Generation).
• Step 6: Assign Failure Distribution Type — In the "General Reliability" panel, set Duration of Operation (hrs), Mean Time To Repair (hrs), and Failure Distribution Type dropdown: Exponential / Exponential (Unit Life) / Weibull / Weibull (Unit Life) / Markov. Also configure Operational Availability fields: Delay Time (hrs), Turn Around Time (hrs), Spares on Hand.
• Step 7: Assign Unit Life Parameter — Under the "Weibull (Unit Life)" section, use the Unit Life Parameter dropdown to pick from defined parameters (e.g. Cycles (C), Distance).
• Step 8: Configure Failure Distribution Parameters — Set Slope (via slider/field, e.g. 1.00) and Characteristic Life (via slider/field, e.g. 1E0). These also appear in the item's Properties panel under the "Reliability" tab.
• Step 9: Configure Unit Life Accrual — Set 'Number of units' and 'Rate of occurrence (units/h)' using the icon buttons, which opens the "Mission Profile Definition" dialog's "Unit Life Configuration" tab. This table represents the units of each Unit Life item (rows) in each Phase or Segment of the mission (columns). Note: units assigned to an item accumulate into the Total for the Mission Profile shown next to the selected Unit Life Parameter. Ensure a Unit Life Parameter has been selected for the item (either in the Reliability editor or Exponential (Unit Life) tab of item properties) before entering units as a non-negative number in the table cells.

Outputs

• I. Cycle Based Reliability / MXTF: Displays Mean Units (X) To Failure of the system or system item. Equivalent to MTTF for items using non-time based duration of operation.
• II. RBD Analysis: Reliability outputs based on non-time based duration of operation, viewable via Menu: Analyses > RBD Analysis viewer.
• III. Charting: Quick generation of graphics based on reliability metrics such as poor performers and criticality.
• IV. Reports: Reliability centric reports may be generated using alternate units of life accrual, such as RBD Report, Reliability Allocation Report, 1629A FMECA and CA.