Fault Tree Analysis

This diagram shows the Fault Tree analysis of a systems failure. This type of diagram is a widely used methodology in system reliability and failure probability analysis. FTA diagrams are used to provide a graphical representation of the events that might lead to a failure so that the failure can be prevented.

Diagram Flow
The diagram flows from top to bottom like a standard flowchart. Along the way are several types of gates that require the user to make decisions. Two common one are AND gates and O gates. O gates typically have !ust one of the sub problems as the cause while AND gates require all the sub items to be valid.

Data
The data resides in an "#cel file named $FaultTreeData.#ls%. The table is named $&'Failure%. The data file has the following columns of data( "vent Name ) The name of the failure. * ) The probability distribution of failures Failures ) Number of failures F+&mp ) ,alculated value- Fussell.+esely importance. DF ) ,alculated value- isk Decrease Factor &F ) ,alculated value- isk &ncrease Factor F, ) ,alculated value- Fractional ,ontribution 'ensitivity +alue ) ,alculated value

Data Graphics
There are two different data graphics used in this diagram.

Data Graphic Event

This data graphic is a te#t display. &t adds the * mean data field for that shape into the bottom center of the shape. This data graphic is displayed on shapes that are non terminal events- these events have sub events.

Data Graphic End Event

This data graphic is made up of three elements and are applied to end events. * mean ) This is a te#t element that displays the * mean data field for that shape/s data row. 'ensitivity +alue ) This is a data bar that visually shows the sensitivity value in a range of 0 to 10. 'ensitivity +alue ) This is an &con set that uses the stop light icons to show different ranges of the 'ensitivity +alue 2'+3. a. 4reen 5ight ) '+ is less that 1.6.

b. 7ellow 5ight ) '+ is between 1.6 and 8. c. ed 5ight ) '+ is greater than 8.

Refreshing Data
Originally the +isio Drawing and Data files were placed in the following directory $,(9:anufacturing Diagrams%. To refresh the data when the data file resides in a different location use the following steps( 1. ight ,lick on the "#ternal Data window and choose $,onfigure efresh% ;. ,lick $,hange Data 'ource<% =. ,hoose $:icrosoft Office "#cel workbook%- then click $Ne#t >% ?. ,lick $@rowse<%- navigate to and select $FaultTreeData.#ls%- then click $Open% 6. ,lick $Ne#t >% A. ,lick $Ok% to select a new data source B. Cith $&'FailureD% as the range you want to use- and $First row of data contains column headings% checked- ,lick $Ne#t >% 8. ,lick $Ne#t >% to include all columns and all data E. ,lick $Finish% to e#it the Data 'elector 10. ,lick $Ok% to e#it the efresh Data dialog 11. ight ,lick on the "#ternal Data window and choose $ efresh Data% to refresh the data in the drawing.