Reliasoft BlockSim

​Overview

According to their website, the 2021 release included maintenance optimization and RAM analysis, with the 2023 release building on the Binary Decision Diagram introduced in 2022, BlockSim 2023 allows users to take Fault Tree Analysis even further by utilizing the Binary Decision Diagram Approximation Method. This new analytical calculation method allows for even larger Fault Tree Analyses, with the power to evaluate FTAs that contain hundreds of thousands of events and gates. Additionally, ReliaSoft users who utilize the Prenscia Access License will have access to the BlockSim simulation API methods. These calls will allow users to trigger simulations of Reliability Block Diagrams and obtain results from those simulations from outside of the BlockSim user interface. Combining this with the other ReliaSoft APIs will enable users to utilize the full power of BlockSim’s availability and maintainability toolset, with the flexibility of modifying and updating existing reliability policies and assumptions from a programmatic interface. The 2024 release was developed in concert with customers this new functionality provides the means to allow a Bill of Materials (BOM) stored in XFRACAS to be sent to BlockSim as a Reliability Block Diagram (RBD). This new capability will allow users with large XFRACAS systems who are looking to evaluate the reliability and/or maintainability approaches of their system with minimal effort for the initial transformation. Utilizing this approach along with the existing APIs for transferring reliability policies and data into BlockSim provides for a streamlined approach to move from FRACAS to RAM analysis without any intermediate steps or software. (Note: this product is owned by Hottinger Bruel & Kjaer (HBK), a non-US-based corporation).

Processes Supported

• Failure Modes & Effects Analysis (FMEA) / Failure Modes Effects & Criticality Analysis (FMECA)
• Failure Reporting, Analysis, and Corrective Action System (FRACAS)
• Fault Tree Analysis (FTA)
• Product Support Analysis (PSA)/ Supportability Analysis 
• Reliability & Maintainability (R&M) Modeling, Prediction, Allocation and Analysis
• Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM)
• Maintenance Planning and Maintenance Management

Potential Organizations Associated

• Air Force/ Space Force
• Army
• Defense Agencies
• Navy/ Marine Corps
• OSD/ Joint Staff

License Requirement

• License fee may apply

Integrated Product Support (IPS) Elements Addressed

• Design Interface
• Maintenance Planning and Management
• Sustaining Engineering
• Technical Data

Disclaimer
This commercial tool is included in the product support analytical tools database to assist defense acquisition workforce members with identifying product support solutions which potentially optimize system readiness and life cycle cost. The analytical tools database itself should under no circumstances be considered all-encompassing; nor does it in any way warrant or endorse the capabilities, pricing, and/or products of any particular individual, company, capability, or organization. Suggested updates to the description of this particular tool or additions to the tools database are welcome.