Instruments for Availability Assessment of Integrated Engineered Systems

Abstract

Basics of reliability analysis covering statistics and Boolean algebra, etc. Modelling of basic system topologies as well as more complex systems. Application of established technologies, e.g. FMEA, Fault Tree Analysis, Markovian chains. System comparisons and optimisation. Model extension as to renewable units and dependent failures. Simulation techniques. Handling with uncertainties.

Objective

Demonstration of the most important terms and theoretical basics of reliability analysis of technical systems. Therewith basic knowledge is provided in order to assess also complex system architectures in terms of safety technology and to optimise them finally. In doing so it is the goal to quote reliability and availability figures of a system and its components by quantitative parameters, e.g. failure probabilities. These indicators also serve as parameters in reliability models and simulations. There, becoming acquainted with current modelling and simulation tools and their practical application is helpful. Realistic models and simulations are achieved by a step by step inclusion of operating impacts, e.g. consideration of dependent failures. Software tools for specified technologies are introduced.

Content

The lecture gives basic knowledge in the field of reliabilty and availability analysis. This includes issues in probability theory, descriptive statistics, and Boolean Algebra. Starting with simple system topologies and architectures and their modelling (e.g. serial-parallel-systems), established techniques of system representation and modelling are introduced. These techniques are Fault Tree analysis, Event Tree Analysis, and Markovian chains, which may serve for system comparisons and optimsations in next steps. Starting with simple approaches, the models are extended step by step, e.g., in order to consider dependent failures, human failures, and various maintenance strategies. Another problem areas concern the data base development for reliability and availability analyses as well as the handling of data and model uncertainties in practice. Finally, current simulation technologies are introduced, e.g. Petri nets, agent based modelling.

Resources