A computerized fault tree construction methodology
J.D. Andrews
J.J. Henry
2134/3823
https://repository.lboro.ac.uk/articles/journal_contribution/A_computerized_fault_tree_construction_methodology/9226949
A new approach to automating the fault tree construction process is proposed. The methodology
has features which make it applicable to binary state systems and also to process control
systems. Previous attempts to model the failure generation in systems have worked well on only a
small sub-class of system types and have failed to produce a generally applicable method. Thus in
some previous approaches there are desirable features which are worth retaining in a new construction
method. The new method is based on the flexibility of the decision table method but incorporates a
way of detecting, classifying and analysing control loops, similar to that used with operators in the
digraph approach. As well as using operators to deal with control loops a new operator is introduced
that deals with two-state circuits. This will mean that when constructing the fault trees, the difficulty
of handling repeated events will be eliminated and the size of the tree structures will be significantly
reduced. The developed algorithm can produce a tree format appropriate for direct input to an
analysis code. The method is demonstrated in this paper by its application to a simplified safety
system from the railway industry. This system has been selected as it exhibits features that are typical
of two-state circuitry but is also small enough to illustrate the new developments introduced.
2008-10-30 14:22:54
Safety
Reliabilty
Fault tree analysis
Engineering not elsewhere classified