Research tools for analysing design margins in complex engineered systems
Three integrated modules — parametric margin valuation, top-down margin allocation, and probabilistic margin risk — built around the Margin Value Method.
A step-by-step walkthrough of building, analysing, and interpreting a Margin Analysis Network.
This tutorial walks through a full MVM analysis on a small worked example: a belt conveyor design where pump pressure must satisfy a load-driven threshold. By the end you will have built a Margin Analysis Network, run an analysis, and interpreted the resulting Margin Value Plot.
You only need a modern web browser. The module runs entirely client-side; no installation is required.
Drag input nodes onto the canvas for the parameters that may change during the design's life — mass, height, environmental conditions. Mark the performance parameters you ultimately care about (for example, design pressure or efficiency).
Wire deterministic calculations between inputs and downstream parameters. Each calculation node carries a formula, an optional lookup table, or a surrogate model. Greek letters and standard mathematical functions are supported.
Capture catalogue or discrete-choice decisions. A decision node automatically registers a margin between its decided value and the threshold required by the network — for example, the chosen pump's rated pressure versus the pressure required by the load.
Open the analysis panel, optionally set weights on inputs and performance parameters, and run. The engine computes local excess, impact, and absorption for every margin in the network.
Margins are placed on a bubble chart with impact on the X-axis, absorption on the Y-axis, and bubble size set by local excess. Use the four-quadrant interpretation in the Overview to decide which margins to keep, trade off, ignore, or reduce.
Change a parameter, swap a catalogue selection, or restructure the network and re-run. The Margin Value Plot updates so you can see whether your edit moves margins into more favourable quadrants.