Accelerated simulation method for estimating the probability of functional failure in high-reliability systems

The once-ephemeral soft error has recently caused considerable concern for manufacturers of advanced silicon technology as this phenomenon now has the potential for inducing the highest failure rate of all other reliability mechanisms combined. We briefly review the three radiation mechanisms responsible for causing soft errors in commercial electronics and the basic physical mechanism by which ionizing radiation can produce a soft error. We then focus on the soft error sensitivity trends in commercial DRAM, SRAM, and peripheral logic devices as a function of technology scaling and discuss some of the solutions used for mitigating the impact of soft errors in high reliability systems.

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Physics of Failure Based Virtual Testing of Communications Hardware

Volume 5: Electronics and Photonics ◽

10.1115/imece2009-12181 ◽

2009 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Elviz George ◽

Diganta Das ◽

Michael Osterman ◽

Michael Pecht ◽

Christopher Otte

Keyword(s):

Thermal Cycling ◽

High Reliability ◽

Simulation Software ◽

Circuit Board ◽

Thermal Dissipation ◽

Physics Of Failure ◽

Printed Circuit ◽

Operational Test ◽

Reliability Systems ◽

Cycles To Failure

Communications hardware for high reliability systems are starting to include modern low profile parts such as Quad Flat Pack No-lead (QFN) and Land Grid Array (LGA) packages to take advantage of their size and weight. In these parts, heat sinks often provide a conductive thermal dissipation path. Printed circuit assemblies with these parts will still need to meet the industry specific qualification requirements for thermal and vibration testing. It is beneficial to identify if the equipment will be able to meet the qualification test requirements during the design phase particularly when new technology insertions are being made. In this design, various surface mount packages like LGAs, QFNs and so on were used in a printed circuit board which included two stiffening layers with non-standard laminates. calcePWA is a simulation software which estimates the cycles to failure of components under various loading conditions using Physics of Failure (PoF). The cycles to failure simulation of this design using calcePWA software identified the critical interconnects that are at risk for failure under non-operational test conditions. The design was also evaluated under a long haul aircraft profile, with the assembly in operational state. In operational state simulation, the effectiveness of thermal shunts in reducing board to component thermal differentials was evaluated. Effects of degradations of the thermal shunts with time were used in the evaluation. Results showed that the vibration and shock reliability were less of a concern than thermal cycling for this board layout. Risk mitigation methods for thermal cycling durability were identified and recommended to be used in the system redesign.

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Integrating probabilistic design and rare-event simulation into the requirements engineering process for high-reliability systems

International Transactions in Operational Research ◽

10.1111/itor.12023 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 20 (4) ◽

pp. 515-531 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Kristin Graham Saling ◽

K. Preston White

Keyword(s):

Requirements Engineering ◽

High Reliability ◽

Rare Event ◽

Probabilistic Design ◽

Engineering Process ◽

Rare Event Simulation ◽

Event Simulation ◽

Requirements Engineering Process ◽

Reliability Systems

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An immunological basis for high-reliability systems control.

10.2172/922089 ◽

2005 ◽

Author(s):

Anil B. Somayaji ◽

Wendy A. Amai ◽

Eleanor A. Walther

Keyword(s):

High Reliability ◽

Systems Control ◽

Reliability Systems

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A Random Onset Model for Degradation of High-Reliability Systems

Technometrics ◽

10.1198/tech.2011.09119 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 53 (2) ◽

pp. 163-172 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Scott Vander Wiel ◽

Alyson Wilson ◽

Todd Graves ◽

Shane Reese

Keyword(s):

High Reliability ◽

Reliability Systems

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Dynamic management of water distribution networks based on hydraulic performance analysis of the system

Water Science & Technology Water Supply ◽

10.2166/ws.2003.0091 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 3 (1-2) ◽

pp. 95-102 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

T. Massoud ◽

A. Zia

Keyword(s):

Water Distribution ◽

High Reliability ◽

Simulation Method ◽

Distribution Networks ◽

Hydraulic Performance ◽

Water Distribution Networks ◽

Level Of Service ◽

Water Supply Systems ◽

Mathematical Function ◽

Reliability Method

In this paper the hydraulic performance of water distribution networks is evaluated by assessing the head values in demand points and velocities in pipes. To obtain the hydraulic parameters a head-driven simulation method is used. In this method, nodal outflows are not fixed and vary with nodal heads. Considering the possibility of a range of demand variations and mechanical and hydraulic failures in the system, nodal heads and pressure dependent outflows are obtained. Then, by using a mathematical function, the performance of the system is realistically evaluated. As expected, the level of service in the system is decreased when head and velocity values are out of the standard ranges. Also, the reliability of a water distribution network is calculated using the ratio of the pressure-dependent outflows to the demand values considering the probability of pipe failures. Comparing the level of service index and reliability applications on a test network, it can be concluded that the reliability method is not sensitive to high-pressure values in the system. However, in this situation the performance index shows a lower level of service in the network. This means that high reliability values guarantee a good connectivity and enough pressure to satisfy the required nodal outflows, although pressure values higher than the standard codes, which lead to more leaks and bursts, are not acceptable in water supply systems. Therefore, the existing definitions of reliability are not comprehensive enough to realistically evaluate performance of the system. Using the level of service index and the head-driven simulation method, the network performance under different normal and abnormal conditions can be appropriately evaluated for water companies.

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