fejlanalysetræ

Fejlanalysetræer, sometimes translated as fault tree analysis trees, are a graphical tool used in risk assessment and reliability engineering. They are employed to systematically identify and analyze the root causes of a specific undesirable event, known as a top event. The structure of a fejlanalysetræ is hierarchical, resembling an upside-down tree.

The top event, representing the failure or malfunction being investigated, sits at the apex of the tree. Branches extend downwards from this top event, representing intermediate events or contributing factors that could lead to the top event. These intermediate events are connected by logical gates, most commonly AND and OR gates. An AND gate signifies that all preceding events must occur simultaneously for the subsequent event to occur. An OR gate indicates that if any one of the preceding events occurs, the subsequent event will occur.

Further down the tree, these intermediate events are broken down into more fundamental causes, such as component failures, human errors, or external influences. The leaves of the tree represent these basic events, which are typically considered to be non-decomposable and are often assigned probabilities of occurrence.

By mapping out these causal relationships, fejlanalysetræer allow for a comprehensive understanding of how failures can propagate through a system. They are valuable for identifying critical failure points, quantifying the probability of system failure, and prioritizing mitigation strategies. This methodology is widely applied in industries such as aerospace, nuclear power, and manufacturing to enhance safety and reliability.