An overview of fault tree analysis and its application in model based dependability analysis

Kabir, Sohag

Abstract

Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) is a well-established and well-understood technique, widely used for dependability evaluation of a wide range of systems. Although many extensions of fault trees have been proposed, they suffer from a variety of shortcomings. In particular, even where software tool support exists, these analyses require a lot of manual effort. Over the past two decades, research has focused on simplifying dependability analysis by looking at how we can synthesise dependability information from system models automatically. This has led to the field of model-based dependability analysis (MBDA). Different tools and techniques have been developed as part of MBDA to automate the generation of dependability analysis artefacts such as fault trees. Firstly, this paper reviews the standard fault tree with its limitations. Secondly, different extensions of standard fault trees are reviewed. Thirdly, this paper reviews a number of prominent MBDA techniques where fault trees are used as a means for system dependability analysis and provides an insight into their working mechanism, applicability, strengths and challenges. Finally, the future outlook for MBDA is outlined, which includes the prospect of developing expert and intelligent systems for dependability analysis of complex open systems under the conditions of uncertainty.

Citation

Kabir, S. (2017). An overview of fault tree analysis and its application in model based dependability analysis. Expert Systems with Applications, 77, 114-135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2017.01.058

• Journal Article Type: Review
• Acceptance Date: Jan 29, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Feb 4, 2017
• Publication Date: Jul 1, 2017
• Deposit Date: Jun 2, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 6, 2018
• Journal: Expert systems with applications
• Print ISSN: 0957-4174
• Electronic ISSN: 0957-4174
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 77
• Pages: 114-135
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2017.01.058
• Keywords: General Engineering; Artificial Intelligence; Computer Science Applications
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/451949
• Publisher URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0957417417300714
• Additional Information: This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: An overview of fault tree analysis and its application in model based dependability analysis; Journal Title: Expert Systems with Applications; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2017.01.058; Content Type: article; Copyright: © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.