scholarly journals Fault tree analysis method for deterioration of timber bridges using an Australian case study

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 332-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weena Lokuge ◽  
Nirdosha Gamage ◽  
Sujeeva Setunge
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Fault Tree ◽  
Fault Tree Analysis ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Tree Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Bridge Maintenance ◽  
Timber Bridges

Purpose – Deterioration of timber bridges can often be related to a number of deficiencies in the bridge elements, connectors and/or as a result of been in aggressive environments which they are exposed to. The maintenance cost of timber bridges is affected significantly by a number of deterioration mechanisms which require a systematic approach for diagnosis and treatment. Evaluating the risk of failure of these bridges is of importance in bridge performance assessment and decision making to optimize rehabilitation options. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – This paper identifies common causes for timber bridge deterioration and demonstrates an integrated approach based on fault tree analysis to obtain qualitative or quantitative estimation of the risk of failure of timber bridge sub-systems. Level 2 inspection report for a timber bridge in Queensland, Australia has been utilized as a case study in this research to identify the failure modes of the bridge. Findings – A diagnostic tool for timber bridge deterioration will benefit asset inspectors, managers, and engineers to identify the type, size and the distress mechanisms in order to recognize the proper corrective measures either to prevent or to reduce further deterioration. Timber bridge maintenance is a major issue in Queensland, Australia. If a decision support tool can be developed, it will benefit road authorities and local councils. Originality/value – Timber bridge maintenance is a major issue in Queensland, Australia. If a decision support tool can be developed as initiated in this research paper it will benefit road authorities and local councils.

A decision support tool to mitigate decision-making problems faced by a building design team

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natee Singhaputtangkul
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Building Design ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Design Team ◽  
Framework Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Support Tool

Purpose There are a number of decision-making problems encountered by a building design team. This issue is apparent in assessment of building envelope materials and designs in the early design stage. The purpose of this paper is to develope a decision support tool based on a quality function deployment (QFD) approach integrated with a knowledge management system (KMS) and fuzzy theory to facilitate a building design team to simultaneously mitigate the decision-making problems when assessing the building envelope materials and designs for the first instance. Design/methodology/approach This study engaged a design team comprising three decision makers (DMs) to test the developed decision support tool through a case study of a representative building project. The study employed deductive qualitative data analysis with use of a framework analysis approach to analyze perspectives of the DMs after completing the case study through a semi-structured interview. Findings A mapping diagram derived qualitatively from the framework analysis suggested that the tool can help mitigate the identified decision-making problems as a whole. Originality/value Practical contributions of using the decision support tool include achievement of a more efficient design and construction management, and higher productivity of a project. In terms of academic contributions, this study expands capabilities of a conventional decision support system, KMS, and QFD tool to handle decision-making problems.

A Data-Driven Decision Support Tool at the service of Energy suppliers and Utilities for Tackling Energy Poverty: A case study in Greece

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Apostolos Arsenopoulos ◽  
Elissaios Sarmas ◽  
Andriana Stavrakaki ◽  
Ioanna Giannouli ◽  
John Psarras
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Data Driven ◽  
Energy Poverty ◽  
Support Tool

scholarly journals Forensic Engineering Use Of Fault Tree Analysis

2006 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank H. Johnson ◽  
DeWitt William E.
Keyword(s):  
Fault Tree ◽  
Fault Tree Analysis ◽  
Tree Analysis ◽  
Complex Engineered Systems ◽  
Track Record ◽  
Forensic Engineering ◽  
Fire And Explosion ◽  
Engineered Systems ◽  
Analytical Tools

Analytical Tools, Like Fault Tree Analysis, Have A Proven Track Record In The Aviation And Nuclear Industries. A Positive Tree Is Used To Insure That A Complex Engineered System Operates Correctly. A Negative Tree (Or Fault Tree) Is Used To Investigate Failures Of Complex Engineered Systems. Boeings Use Of Fault Tree Analysis To Investigate The Apollo Launch Pad Fire In 1967 Brought National Attention To The Technique. The 2002 Edition Of Nfpa 921, Guide For Fire And Explosion Investigations, Contains A New Chapter Entitled Failure Analysis And Analytical Tools. That Chapter Addresses Fault Tree Analysis With Respect To Fire And Explosion Investigation. This Paper Will Review The Fundamentals Of Fault Tree Analysis, List Recent Peer Reviewed Papers About The Forensic Engineering Use Of Fault Tree Analysis, Present A Relevant Forensic Engineering Case Study, And Conclude With The Results Of A Recent University Study On The Subject.

RELIABILITY ASSESSMENT OF SAFETY INSTRUMENTED SYSTEMS IN THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY: A PRACTICAL APPROACH AND A CASE STUDY

2009 ◽  
Vol 16 (02) ◽  
pp. 187-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARY ANN LUNDTEIGEN ◽  
MARVIN RAUSAND
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Fault Tree ◽  
Reliability Assessment ◽  
Fault Tree Analysis ◽  
Practical Approach ◽  
Suggested Approach ◽  
Tree Analysis ◽  
Common Cause ◽  
Common Cause Failures

This article presents a practical approach to reliability assessment of a complex safety instrumented system that is susceptible to common cause failures. The approach is based on fault tree analysis where the common cause failures are included by post-processing the minimal cut sets. The approach is illustrated by a case study of a safety instrumented function of a workover control system that is used during maintenance interventions into subsea oil and gas wells. The case study shows that the approach is well suited for identifying potential failures in complex systems and for including design engineers in the verification of the reliability analyses. Unlike many software tools for fault tree analysis, the approach gives conservative estimates for reliability. The suggested approach represents a useful extension to current reliability analysis methods.

A fuzzy fault tree analysis based risk assessment approach for enterprise resource planning projects

2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 1115-1141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mina Moeinedini ◽  
Sadigh Raissi ◽  
Kaveh Khalili-Damghani
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Enterprise Resource Planning ◽  
Fault Tree ◽  
Fault Tree Analysis ◽  
Resource Planning ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Tree Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cause And Effect ◽  
Fuzzy Fault Tree Analysis

Purpose Enterprise resource planning (ERP) is assumed as a commonly used solution in order to provide an integrated view of core business processes, including product planning, manufacturing cost, delivery, marketing, sales, inventory management, shipping and payment. Selection and implementation of a suitable ERP solution are not assumed a trivial project because of the challenging nature of it, high costs, long-duration of installation and customization, as well as lack of successful benchmarking experiences. During the ERP projects, several risk factors threat the successful implementation of the project. These risk factors usually refer to different phases of the ERP projects including purchasing, pilot implementation, teaching, install, synchronizing, and movement from old systems toward new ones, initiation and utilization. These risk factors have dominant effects on each other. The purpose of this paper is to explore the hybrid reliability-based method is proposed to assess the risk factors of ERP solutions. Design/methodology/approach In this regard, the most important risk factors of ERP solutions are first determined. Then, the interactive relations of these factors are recognized using a graph based method, called interpretive structural modeling. The resultant network of relations between these factors initiates a new viewpoint toward the cause and effect relations among risk factors. Afterwards, a fuzzy fault tree analysis is proposed to calculate Failure Fuzzy Possibility (FFP) for the basic events of the fault tree leading to a quantitative evaluation of risk factors. Findings The whole proposed method is applied in a well-known Iranian foodservice distributor as a case study. The most impressive risk factors are identified, classified and prioritized. Moreover, the cause and effect diagram between the risk factors are identified. So, the ERP leader can plan a low-risk project and increase the chance of success. Originality/value According to the authors’ best knowledge, such approach was not reported before in the literature of ERP risk assessments.

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