Configuration Panel

The Simulation Settings report appears at the top of the Configuration panel. The component settings for every selected component appear below the Simulation Settings outline. Configuration settings for selected events and actions appear below the block shape to which the action or event belongs.

Simulation Settings

Alter the settings for the simulation in the Simulation Settings report, which is available in the Configuration panel. The following settings are available:

Duration

The length of time that is simulated in each iteration.

Time Unit

The unit of time to use for the simulation.

Note: Recurring events and non-immediate actions use the Time Unit specified in Simulation Settings.

N Simulations

The number of iterations in the simulation.

Seed

(Optional) A random seed that ensures the reproducibility of simulation results. By default, the Seed is set to zero, which does not produce reproducible results. When you save the analysis to a script, the random seed that you enter is saved to the script.

Caution: If you run a simulation by right-clicking and selecting Run Multithreaded Simulation, the results are not reproducible, even if you specify a random seed.

Block Settings

Select a block shape in the System Diagram to see its settings in the Configuration panel.

Each block shape, except the knot block, has a failure distribution that determines the rate at which the block shape’s individual components randomly fail. The failure distribution for a basic block determines the rate at which the block fails, because basic blocks represent only one component. For more information about the available failure distribution options, see Distribution Options.

Series and Parallel

A series block fails when one of its components fails. A parallel block fails when all of its components fail. The following option is available for series and parallel blocks:

Specifies the number of identical components contained in the block.

K-out-of-N

K-out-of-N blocks contain n identical components. The block fails when fewer than k of the components are functional. The following options are available for K-out-of-N blocks:

Specifies the minimum number of functional components required for the block to remain functional.

Specifies the number of identical components contained in the block.

Standby

Standby blocks have secondary components, called standby components, that are inactive. Active components perform work within a standby block. Inactive components do not perform work within a standby block, and are activated one at a time as active components fail. Occasionally, the activation process is not successful. A component switch might fail when activating a standby component. A standby block fails when less than k of its n identical components are active. The following options are available for standby blocks:

Specifies the number of components that are initially active. This is also the minimum number of active components that is required for the block to remain functional.

Specifies the total number of identical components within the block. The difference between k and n is equal to the number of standby components.

Switch Type

Specifies the mechanism that activates a single standby component if any active component fails.

Single Switch

A single switch exists in the block. If the activation of a standby component fails, then the block also fails.

Individual Switches

A switch exists for each standby component. If the activation of a standby component fails, that standby component cannot be activated. The standby block attempts to activate the next standby component until a standby component is activated. If no remaining switches are functional and fewer than k of the components are active, then the block fails.