INTEGRATION OF VISUALIZATION WITH RAM MODELING, DOCUMENTATION AND FAILURE RECOVERY TOOLS TO ENHANCE SYSTEM RELIABILITY

摘要

A virtual reality application was developed for the systems needed to remediate a transuranic waste contaminated disposal area, called Pit 9, at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL). This was done with INEEL software called VRAM, which is a 3D visual tool for organizing and integrating RAM modeling, system documentation and failure recovery tools. The integration of these components greatly aids in the evaluation, communication and recovery of system failures or in prevention of untenable system failures. For the Pit 9 application, it was used to aid in designing systems with reliability to prevent untenable failures. For other applications, VRAM could be used to enhance existing system reliability. The modeling integrated into the VRAM application consists of the system reliability, availability and maintainability (RAM) models entered as fault trees and inverted into success trees. System documentation such as manuals (descriptions), drawings, pictures, equipment and parts lists, and online training are included along with a user entry knowledge database. Failure recovery tools such as repair visualization, trouble shooting, and failure and success pathways are also included. The visualization integrates or links the system RAM model, documentation and failure recovery tools to components in the representative, navigable 3D physical system visualization model. This is accomplished using two windows on the computer display, one for pictorial system/component visualization and one as a standard text directory for linked documentation, models, training and failure recovery tools. The user can navigate through the 3D system visualization model with the cursor keys and can select components with the mouse pointer. The VRAM application can be set to display pop-up text windows with or without sound vocalization for components "highlighted" in color with the mouse pointer. The text directory window automatically lists the linked information for the selected component. The integration that can be provided in a VRAM application can serve as an interactive one-stop depository of information for a system, with descriptions, RAM models, training and repair aids. It provides the inexperienced user with the tools necessary for system familiarization and repair, thus improving human reliability. For remote system applications (space, oil drilling, etc.) it provides the visualization necessary to facilitate troubleshooting and repairs. For the Pit 9 application, the VRAM tool facilitated understanding for preplanned maintenance that addressed regulatory concerns for minimizing exposure risks to workers.