Handbook of Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Safety in Engineering Design - Part 52 studies the combination of various methods of designing for reliability, availability, maintainability and safety, as well as the latest techniques in probability and possibility modelling, mathematical algorithmic modelling, evolutionary algorithmic modelling, symbolic logic modelling, artificial intelligence modelling, and object-oriented computer modelling, in a logically structured approach to determining the integrity of engineering design. . | Application Modelling of Availability and Maintainability in Engineering Design 493 Fig. Dynamic systems simulation in the blackboard model To take full advantage of virtual prototyping it is necessary to develop a modelling paradigm that supports model reuse that is integrated with the design environment and that provides a simple and intuitive user interface that requires a minimum of analysis expertise as shown in Fig. . General configuration of process simulation model Many engineered installations have a modular architecture that is based on the optimum selection and composition of systems assemblies and components from older designs. When the new design is created these system compositions are selected and then connected together in a configuration. In addition to the dynamics of the systems per se physical phenomena occur at the interfaces between the system s components. These interactions must also be modelled in an integrated framework that supports the following aspects of interaction modelling Model organisation several models can represent a particular physical phenomenon. These models are classified and organised so that the designer is not inundated with choices. An interaction model taxonomy is developed with each PEM based on a theoretical formalism to represent and organise the interactions. 494 4 Availability and Maintainability in Engineering Design Model reuse through standardised representation all interactions between the system composition and its environment occur through the component s interface. Therefore a library of interaction models can be indexed by their interfaces. Candidate interaction models can be selected by searching the library for models with interfaces compatible with the interfaces of the connected components. Capturing component interaction dynamics when two components are connected via their interfaces the connection implies that there is an intended physical interaction between the two components. This .
