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GO-FLOW
key words: system reliability analysis, fault tree analysis, PSA, probabilistic safety assessment, safety analysis

SYSTEM RELIABILITY ANALYSIS

PROGRAM PACKAGE GO-FLOW

A powerful new program package for system reliability analysis !!
It has been just started the supply of the GO-FLOW Program Package.@ (PRESS HERE for Japanese version)

Probabilistic Safety Assessment(PSA) has been introduced into various fields. The PSA plays an important role in plant design, safety assessment, risk based regulation, accident management and so on. The Ship Research Institute has long devoted to researches of system reliability analysis methodology (Principal researcher Dr.T. MATSUOKA) with the support of Japanese Government.
What is the GO-FLOW ?
The GO-FLOW methodology, which is a success-oriented system analysis technique, is capable of evaluating system reliability and availability. The modeling technique produces the GO-FLOW chart, which consists of signal lines and operators. The operators model function or failure of the physical equipment, a logical gate and a signal generator. Signals represent some physical quantity or information. An analysis is performed from the upstream to the downstream signal lines, and is completed when the intensities of the final signals at all time points are obtained. The GO-FLOW can replace the fault tree Analysis and has more advanced functions. The GO-FLOW is applicable to large complex systems such as chemical plant, nuclear plant, transportation system, control system....
What is the GO-FLOW program package?
The analysis steps and the hardware software configuration are shown in figures 1 and 2. The GO-FLOW analysis support system is a fully integrated personal computer based, menu driven analysis system. The GO-FLOW program is executed on PC or EWS. The analysis is performed as if it were just carried on a PC placed on the analysts's own desk. Analysis results can be immediately obtained by high quality figures and tables.
Main function
The GO-FLOW program package consists of the following modules.
  • GO-FLOW analysis program
    • Reliability analysis by the GO-FLOW Methodology(Basic analysis)
  • Uncertainty Analysis program:
    • Uncertainty analysis by the Monte Carlo Method is performed in the GO-FLOW. As a distribution of a basic event, the followings are provided. Normal, Log-Normal, Homogeneous, Log-homogeneous, Gamma, Binomial, Weibull, Beta, and Histogram distributions.
  • Common Cause failure Analysis program:
    Common Cause failure Analysis is performed in the GO-FLOW. Four parametric models can be handled: Beta-factor model, Multiple Greek Letter model, Binomial Failure rate model, Alpha-factor model.
  • Uncertainty analysis with Common Cause Failure:
    • A function of performing uncertainty analysis together with Common Cause Failure analysis.
  • GO-FLOW Chart EditorF
    • An interactive graphics editor for a GO-FLOW chart with menus and mouse clicks. Icons of standardized operators are provided in the editor. Figure 3. shows an example of a CRT display. The editor can automatically produce input data for the GO-FLOW analysis program.
  • GO-FLOW Chart Plotting program:
    • This program draws a GO-FLOW chart on large size paper by using a pen plotter. Figure. 4 shows an example of a GO-FLOW chart drawn by this program.
  • Presentation of Uncertainty analysis results :
    • Results of uncertainty analysis can be expressed in various figures on CRT display or printer.
  • Presentation of total analysis results :
    • Analysis condition, important cut sets, results of CCF analysis, time variation of system reliability,... are drawn in figures or tables on CRT display or printer.
    GO-FLOW program package can handle the following analyses.
  • Analysis of phased mission problem
  • Time dependent unavailability analysis
  • Reliability analysis with recovery actions
  • Analysis of dynamic process system

    • Analysis steps and system configuration.

    Main analysis flow in the GO-FLOW

    An example of CRT display of GO-FLOW chart editor

    An example of GO-FLOW chart drawn by GO-FLOW chart plotter

    A reference book for the GO-FLOW methodology

    System Requirements
  • PC version
    Microsoft Windows NT4.0, 2000, Xp
  • Accessories
    Printer with more than 132 column out put
    Plotter for HP-GL or Cannon Laser shot
    • GO-FLOW program package
    Developed by Ship Research Institute, Ministry of Transport
    Registered number P4818-1 (Principal researcher Dr.T.MATSUOKA)
    Book
    "System Reliability Analysis Methodology GO-FLOW, for the Probabilistic Safety Assessment (PSA), from basic concept to practical usage"
    National Maritime Research Institute, Dr.Takeshi MATSUOKA