B031392 - SYSTEMS RELIABILITY AND SAFETY

English

The course will cover the fundamentals of reliability and the RAMS (Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, Safety) techniques, methodologies for analyzing and calculating the reliability of components and systems, and methods for predicting the failure rate. This will be followed by risk/safety assessment methodologies, SIL (Safety Integrity Level) calculation with the presentation of techniques in an industrial context and applications.

Particular emphasis will be placed on the recommended use of course notes updated for the current academic year.

- A. Ferrero , D. Petri, P. Carbone, M. Catelani. "Modern Measurements: Fundamentals and Applications", Wiley-IEEE Press, 2015

- Rausand, M.: "Reliability of Safety-Critical Systems: Theory and Applications," Wiley, Hoboken, NJ ,2014.

- Rausand, M.: "Risk Assessment: Theory, Methods, and Applications," Wiley, Hoboken, 2011.

Normative references and European directives cited in the curriculum will also be covered.

The overarching goal of the course is to provide the necessary skills for shaping a Reliability, Maintenance, and Safety Engineer (RM6).

Specifically, the course will lay the foundation for understanding RAMS principles (Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, and Safety) and techniques for assessing and managing Risk and Safety. It will delve into methods of diagnosis that also support maintenance activities (CT5-CT6) (cc4).
Students will be able to conduct reliability analysis using probabilistic models, estimate reliability parameters based on historical and diagnostic data from machinery and systems, and construct complex models for inductive fault estimation (CT3-CT4-CT5-CT10) (cc7, cc8). The capacity to critically evaluate and interpret RAMS performance of even intricate systems and installations will be developed (ca2, ca3, ca4). The ability to identify optimal design choices aimed at enhancing RAMS performance (ca7) will be emphasized, alongside utilizing decision support tools. The evaluation and interpretation of safety levels and risk indices will also be covered (CT5-CT6-CT10) (ca6).

None.

The course will feature comprehensive lectures accompanied by supplementary seminars in collaboration with companies, along with the presentation of industrial case studies.

To take the examination, online registration is required.

The registration list will be closed two days before the scheduled exam date. Registrations will not be accepted after the list is closed or according to the prepared examination schedule.

The final examination will be conducted in an oral format. During the oral examination, the assessment will focus on the competence in analyzing RAMS parameters of complex systems (CT10) (cc4, cc7) and the application of techniques presented during the course to evaluate the student's acquired ability to employ a rigorous methodology (cc8).

In particular, the ability to compute reliability parameters and system failure rates (CT5) or determine the mathematical reliability model will be evaluated. Application of various risk analysis techniques (CT3-CT4), along with understanding their advantages and limitations across different case studies, will be required. Lastly, the structure and design of a Safety Instrumented System (SIS), component selection, and the procedure for SIL (Safety Integrity Level) calculation (CT6) will be discussed. Each of the three sections holds equal weight in terms of scoring, measured on a scale of thirty points.

RELIABILITY AND DEPENDABILITY

The RAMS Parameters (Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, Safety). Concept of failure, malfunction, and their classification. Reliability functions, experimental failure distribution, instantaneous failure rate, reliability and availability parameters: MTTF, MTBF, MTTR. System reliability: series, parallel, stand-by, k out of n, mixed configurations. Brief overview of reliability in complex configurations. Databases (MIL-HDBK 217 and others), failure rate calculation, and reliability prediction for electronic devices: part count and part stress methods. Techniques for enhancing reliability/availability and reliability reporting. Reliability distributions; laboratory testing.

RISK ANALYSIS AND SYSTEM SAFETY

Risk analysis: risk concept and its evaluation, risk management process, risk curve and matrix, examples of risk indices, acceptable risk and ALARP region; inductive and deductive analysis methods, FMEA/FMECA and FTA techniques (fault tree analysis), Preliminary Hazard Analysis (PHA), Hazard and Operability Analysis (HAZOP), event tree analysis (ETA); applications.
Human error, Human Reliability Assessment (HRA) techniques.
Safety analysis: introduction to functional safety, Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS), concept of Safety Integrity Level (SIL) and its classification; CEI EN 61508 and CEI EN 61511 standards and application differences, safety lifecycle; functional safety management system and Safety Instrumented Functions (SIF); safety system design, qualitative and quantitative parameter definition, SIL assignment methods, and verification. Brief overview of maintenance.

The topics covered in the curriculum stem from experimental research activities aligning with the following Agenda 2030 Goals:

Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.

Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation.

Indeed, the keywords of these goals encompass reliability, resilience, and industrialization.