Fault tree analysis uses symbols in a tree diagram to identify the root cause of an event, such as an accident or malfunction. Symbols include doors, rectangles, triangles, circles, and diamonds. The analysis helps evaluate system safety and reliability and can pinpoint the cause of an adverse event. Analysts must be experts in the area being evaluated, and software can assist in organizing and managing data.
In fault tree analysis, a tree diagram is used to identify a single event and determine what led to it. Composed of a variety of symbols, a fault tree can be used as a troubleshooting tool or to decide how an event such as an explosion or forklift accident occurred. Symbols include doors and rectangles as well as triangles, circles and diamonds. The final results are represented at the top of the failure analysis tree and the other items aid in deductive reasoning until a root cause is presented at the bottom. Fault tree analysis was first created in the 1960s and has been frequently used in manufacturing, power plants, and weapon systems design.
The upper rectangle of a ley tree is usually referred to as the “upper door”. Typically here is an event that was the end result of an error or that represents a problem that needs to be fixed. Other gate symbols can identify whether each event mentioned must occur before the final result. They can also show whether one or the other, or a combination of factors, can lead to an event.
Fault tree analysis generally uses circles to show root causes and events that cannot be decomposed. The circles are usually at the bottom of the tree diagram. Diamonds are often used when too little information prohibits further analysis; personal or hardware can be represented here. In the diagram, ovals are usually used to express certain situations that can only arise under particular circumstances. Triangles often help create connections between different branches of the tree.
These basic symbols are used in fault tree analysis, while other symbol sets are also sometimes used. The concept can help evaluate the safety or reliability of a system during design, during normal operation, or when a problem occurs. Such analysis also helps to understand how systems operate, determine where testing is needed, or pinpoint the cause of an accident or equipment malfunction.
An adverse event typically must be predictable for a fault tree analysis tool to be effective. This also requires anticipating the key factors that led to a problem. Analysts, therefore, must be experts in the area they are evaluating, regardless of the instrument they use. Fault tree analysis software can help organize information graphically, report problems, and manage the various data that is being analyzed.
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