FMECA using Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) and Fuzzy Logic

결함수분석법과 퍼지논리를 이용한 FMECA 평가

Failure Mode, Effects, and Criticality Analysis (FMECA) is an extension of FMEA which includes a criticality analysis. The criticality analysis is used to chart the probability of failure modes against the severity of their consequences. The result highlights failure modes with relatively high probability and severity of consequences, allowing remedial effort to be directed where it will produce the greatest value. However, there are several limitations. Measuring severity of failure consequences is subjective and linguistic. Since The result of FMECA only gives qualitative and quantitative informations, it should be re-analysed to prioritize critical units. Fuzzy set theory has been introduced by Lotfi A. Zadeh (1965). It has extended the classical set theory dramatically. Based on fuzzy set theory, fuzzy logic has been developed employing human reasoning process. IF-THEN fuzzy rule based assessment approach can model the expert's decision logic appropriately. Fault tree analysis (FTA) is one of most common fault modeling techniques. It is widely used in many fields practically. In this paper, a simple fault tree analysis is proposed to measure the severity of components. Fuzzy rule based assessment method interprets linguistic variables for determination of critical unit priorities. An rail-way transforming system is analysed to describe the proposed method.