Fault Tree Analysis, Strengths and Weaknesses

Other conference contribution, 2010

Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) is a tool of hazard identification techniques. As a useful method it is applied in various industries, social and environmental problems for reconstruction, failure analysis, and failure frequency estimation. ETA is a graphical and logic combination of causes of a defined undesired event where Boolean algebra is used. It is a backward method which is used to think about the consequences which may occur. This analysis method is mainly used in the field of safety engineering to quantify the probability of an undesired event and is used to reconstruct it. It can also be used to reconstruct an accident. Besides its advantages, there are a number of shortcomings which imply that the method still has rooms for improvement. Among the disadvantages are the uncertainties in covering all failure modes, inaccuracy in human error in investigation of complex man-made systems and inefficiency of the tool in case of scarce or insufficient data. These problems demand some revision study to find the research questions in detail. The purpose of this paper is to conduct a literature review in order to find weaknesses and strengths of FTA to indicate a platform for future research works.