Modifications and Enhancements to BlockSim 7

The modifications/enhancements for each service release are described next. This information is also available in the ReadMe file that is installed with the software. The most recent service release (build) contains all previous modifications. To determine the Compile Release Version (CRV) of the application on your computer, choose About from the Help menu. Click here to download the latest free service release.

Build 7.0.12

  • Resolved various translation issues.
  • Resolved an issue in the FRED report, where MTTR might not be 0 for multiple blocks that cannot fail.
  • Allow calculation of optimum replacement for blocks with gamma, logistic, loglogistic and Gumbel distributions.
  • Resolved issues in the simulation with maintenance based on system age while the components are not operating. This applies to the situation where the system is not operating due to components with corrective policy to be performed upon inspection and those components do not operate through failure.
  • Resolved an issue in the simulation when an active path fails and the standby path(s) are being inspected. This applies to components with corrective policy to be performed upon inspection.

Build 7.0.11

  • Resolved issues in German and French translations.
  • Resolved an issue affecting standby containers with contained blocks that are repaired upon inspection and that have maintenance actions that bring the system down.
  • Resolved an issue affecting throughput in diagrams with k out of n nodes when k equals n.
  • Added a new function in the Function Wizard: MTBF of the system given a fixed replacement interval.

Build 7.0.10

  • Added support for Microsoft Windows 7.
  • Added reference to the theory help file.
  • Resolved an issue where some sets in a series configuration were not displayed for cut sets analysis.
  • Resolved an issue with maintenance on system age when blocks are down waiting for inspection or not operating.

Build 7.0.9

  • Immediate rerelease to resolve an issue inadvertently introduced in the public release of version 7.0.8: Application was compiled with additional debug routines that would significantly affect speed performance during simulations.

Build 7.0.8

  • Added the capability of importing items from Lambda Predict 3.0.2 and newer files to diagrams, templates and failure distribution parameters.
  • Resolved issues involving calculation of virtual ages of containers in phases with corrective maintenance policy "Upon Inspection".
  • Resolved an intermittent issue with standby blocks and maintenance on intervals.
  • Resolved an error with Loadsharing containers and the Inverse Power Law with large values of the parameter n. This issue occurred in both simulation and analytical solutions.
  • Resolved an issue with the block reference number and the user defined fields not being copied to the clipboard.
  • Resolved an issue with items staying minimized after double clicking on the corresponding item in the project explorer.
  • Resolved an issue with static events in Fault Tree remaining static after converting the connecting gate into a standby container gate.

Build 7.0.7

  • Added language support for Spanish.
  • Added new algorithm for calculating minimal cut sets.
  • Added ability to select 2 or 3 parameter Weibull or 1 or 2 parameter Exponential when approximating a sub-diagram's distribution.
  • The maximum number of items in multiple blocks is increased from 1000 to 5000.
  • Resolved an issue with saving projects when certain Windows printer drivers are present on a user's system.
  • Resolved an issue with standby containers giving a run-time error.

Build 7.0.6

  • Enabled simulation of diagrams containing blocks with static reliability.
  • Added option in phase throughput to base throughput based on diagram (as opposed to fixed or time varying throughput).
  • Resolved issues associated with load sharing containers in maintenance phases.
  • Modified how the block current age is used when a restoration factor exists. Versions prior to 7.0.6 used the current age as the virtual age. It is now used as calendar time and the virtual age is calculated internally. Note that this might result in significant differences in results.
  • Resolved issue where overflow error occurred during analysis of certain diagrams.

Build 7.0.5

  • Resolved an issue with the analytical solution of Fault Trees where the calculations could be incorrect if they contained mirrored blocks in certain configurations.

Build 7.0.4

  • Added the "Use Probability of Failure for Static Blocks" option in the User Setup.
  • Added simulation plots to the plot types available in the MultiPlot.
  • Added an "Add block" menu option in the Item Properties Table.
  • Resolved an issue with optimization of multiple blocks.
  • Resolved an issue with maintenance phases losing the link to the Maintenance Template Sheet during export.
  • Resolved an issue with duty cycles and preventive maintenance and inspections on item age not working properly.
  • Resolved an issue with preventive maintenance and inspections on item age not working properly through interrupted phases.
  • Resolved an issue associated with Type I restoration factors.
  • Resolved an issue in simulation details where contained blocks did not show the name of the container for the phase view (not overall).
  • Resolved an issue with phase simulation when a matching multi block was in series in a diagram but in parallel in a Maintenance Template Sheet (or otherwise).
  • Modified the behavior for inspection on item age with a restoration factor of 0. Inspections on item age with a restoration factor of 0 will be performed at intervals, as opposed to only when the item reaches that age. Note that this modification may result in significant changes in simulation results.
  • Accelerated calculations for large fault tree diagrams.

Build 7.0.3

  • Made improvements in the speed of simulating a Phase Diagram.
  • Resolved an issue with variable throughput, specifically when bottlenecks existed in the diagram.
  • Resolved an intermittent issue for mean and interval mean availability system point results not being calculated right.
  • Resolved an issue with maximum capacity and uptime utilization not being displayed correctly in the simulation results.
  • Added new simulation plots: Cost, Mean Availability, System Failures and Throughput.
  • Added support for ALTA 7.
  • Added language support for French.

Build 7.0.2

  • Added language support for German, Portuguese and Chinese.
  • Added the ability to enable an inspection to bring an item or system down for contained blocks.
  • Added multiple block properties to analytical equations legend.
  • Resolved a simulation issue where a block with a mixed-weibull distribution and a combination of the parameters caused an overflow error.
  • Resolved various other minor issues.

Build 7.0.1

  • Initial Release.