Scribd
Upload
194 views

Fault Tree Analysis

Fault tree analysis (FTA) is a deductive failure analysis technique that uses graphical models, called fault trees, to depict how components of a system can fail and result in an overall system failure called a top event. FTA identifies the potential causes of failures that can lead to undesirable events. It is used to anticipate failures and identify weaknesses in complex systems. The document provides an example of using FTA to analyze the failure of a pressure tank safety system. It describes the steps of defining the top event, constructing the fault tree, and calculating failure probabilities.

Uploaded by

Jon Jimmy
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
194 views

Fault Tree Analysis

Fault tree analysis (FTA) is a deductive failure analysis technique that uses graphical models, called fault trees, to depict how components of a system can fail and result in an overall system failure called a top event. FTA identifies the potential causes of failures that can lead to undesirable events. It is used to anticipate failures and identify weaknesses in complex systems. The document provides an example of using FTA to analyze the failure of a pressure tank safety system. It describes the steps of defining the top event, constructing the fault tree, and calculating failure probabilities.

Uploaded by

Jon Jimmy
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 6

FAULT TREE ANALYSIS

CE 130: Engineering Safety


Spring, 2012
Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) is originated in 1961 at Bell Laboratories to evaluate a missile launch
operation. Later, it has been used extensively by the aerospace industry, nuclear power industry
and chemical process industry. Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) is a popular tool used by engineers to
anticipate system failures and identify weak links present in the systems.
FTA is a top-down hazard-analysis tool that uses Boolean logic (gates) to describe
combinationsofindividualfaultsthancancreateahazardouseventoranaccident.Eachlevelof
thetreeliststhelowerleveleventsthatarenecessarytocausetheeventshowninthelevelabove
it.The causative events are laid out in a tree with the branches connected by different logic gates.
A fault-tree is therefore a graphical model of all the parallel and sequential combinations of
events that lead to the top event. This deductive approach starts with a well defined accident (i.e.,
Top Event) and works backwards towards the various scenarios that can cause the accident.
Let us take an example of flat tire on an automobile. This could be caused by two possible
events: (i) driving over debris on the road (such as nail) and (ii) tire failure. In this example flat
tire is identified as top event and two contributing causes are either basic event or intermediate
event. The basic events are the events that con not be defined further, while intermediate events
are events that can be defined further. In this example debris on the road is a basic event since
no further definition is possible. However the tire failure is an intermediate event because it
results from either a defective tire or a worn tire. Iftheindividualprobabilitiesforallthebasic
eventsareknown(notfeasibleinmostabstractcases)thefrequencyofthetopeventtooccurcan
becalculated.AlthoughFTAwasoriginallydevelopedtocalculatequantitativeprobabilities,itis
moreoftenusedqualitatively.

The flat tire example is pictured using a fault tree logic diagram shown in Fig 1. The circles
denote basic events and the rectangles denote intermediate events and top event. The fish-like
symbol represents the OR logic function. It means that either of the input events will cause the
output state to occur. As shown on Fig. 1 the flat tire is caused by either a defective tire or a worn
tire.

Flat Tire

TOP EVENT

OR

INTERMEDIATE
EVENT

Tire Failure

OR

Defective

Tire

Road
Debris
BASIC EVENT

Worn
Tire

Fig. 1: A fault tree describing the various events contributing to a flat tire
The example shown here is a very simple process. For more complex processes, a number of
additional logic functions are needed to construct a fault tree. A list of commonly used logic
function is given in Table 2. The AND logic function is very important for describing process
that interact in parallel. This means that the output state of the AND logic function is active only
when all of the input states are active.

Table 2: Common logic transfer components used in a fault tree


A A+B
B
OR Gate

A A.B
B
AND Gate

A
0
1
0
1

B
0
0
1
1

A+B
0
1
1
1

A
0
1
0
1

B
0
0
1
1

A.B
0
0
0
1

A
0
1

NOT Gate

1
0

Let us consider another example of pressure vessel shown in Fig. 2. The safety system consists
of four valves, which are connected to the tank. The valves will open if the pressure in the tank
exceeds a certain level (for example P0). The content in the tank will be release to the
environment if both valves A1 and A2 on Line-1 or both valves A3 and A4 on Line-2 are open.
What is the probability that the safety system fails to function when needed, i.e. the valves do not
open when the pressure in the tank exceeds P0?
The first step in FTA is to define the Top Event. The Top Event in this case is that the safety
system fails to release the content in the tank when the pressure is more than P 0. The second step
is to construct the Fault Tree showing the necessary conditions or events that must occur in order
for the top event to occur. First, the intermediate events are identified and their logical
relationships to the top-level event are determined. For the safety system of the pressure tank to
fail to work, the following two events must occur simultaneously:
(i) Line-1 fails to open and (ii) Line-2 fails to open
Note that the failure could not occur if either one of these two events does not occur. Therefore,
these two intermediate events are connected with the top event through "AND" logical
relationship.
3

Line-2

Line-1
A2

A4

A1

A3

TANK
Fig. 2: Arrangement of pressure tank and valves
Construction of the fault tree continues by identifying the appropriate events at lower levels and
their logical relationship to the higher-level events. This process is continued until basic failure
events are identified. The basic events are placed at the bottom of the tree. The basic failures
chosen are: (i) Valve 1 fails to open (ii) Valve 2 fails to open, (iii) Valve 3 fails to open and (iv)
Valve 4 fails to open and the resulting fault tree is shown in Fig. 3
The objective of FTA is to compute the probability of the top event based on the probability of
the basic failures. The probability of bottom events can be determined through direct
experimentation, historical experience, or estimation. For example, from past data, we know that
the probability that the valve will fail open when the pressure is more than P 0 is p (A1 fails to
open) = p (A2 fails to open) = p (A3 fails to open) = p (A4 fails to open) = 0.001.
Once the probabilities of the basic events are known the fault tree is solved from the bottom up
using Boolean logic and mathematics. We assume for now that the basic failures are considered
to be independent events. So the probability of the top event is
P (failure to danger mode) = [p (A1 fails to open) + p (A2 fails to open)] [p (A1 fails to open) +
p (A2 fails to open)]
4

The safety system fails to


release the content in the
tank when the pressure is
more than P0

AND

Line-2 fails to open

Line-1 fails to open

OR

A1 fails
to open

OR

A2 fails
to open

A3 fails
to open

A4 fails
to open

Fig. 2: Fault tree for fail-to danger mode.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF FAULT TREE ANALYSIS


The principal advantage of the fault tree analysis is it is structured and rigorous approach to
identify failure modes in a system operation. Since it is a deductive method it can easily handle
more complex system. The graphic aid in FTA is self explanatory and it is very useful for
management for a quick review. Qualitative as well as quantitative reliability analysis can be
performed using FTA. This method is suitable for computer programme.
However, FTA has some major disadvantages. It is a more involved and time consuming
approach as compared to other similar methods. Every event in FTA is considered either in failed
condition or in working condition. The partial failure states are difficult to handle in FTA.

REVIEW QUESTIONS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

What is Fault Tree?


Name three advantages of Fault Tree Analysis?
Name three disadvantages of Fault Tree Analysis?
What is Top Event?
The intermediate events are denoted by circles. True or false?

Assume that a windowless room contains three light bulbs (i.e., A, B and C) and one switch.
Develop a fault tree for the top fault event dark room
7. In Question 6 the probabilities of occurrence of fault events fuse failure, switch failure,
power failure, bulb-A failure, bulb-B failure and bulb-C failure are 0.01, 0.02, 0.03,
0.04, 0.05 and 0.06 respectively. Calculate the probability of occurrence of the unsafe event
dark room

REFERENCE
1. Dhillon, B.S. (2003) Engineering Safety: Fundamentals, Techniques, Applications,
World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., Singapore.
2. Crowl, D.A. and Louvar, J.F. (1990) Chemical Process Safety: Fundamentals with
Applications Prentice Hall PTR, New Jersey.

You might also like