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Fault diagnosis of automobile systems using fault tree based on digraph modeling

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Abstract

Fault diagnosis of automobile systems is critical, as it adds-up to repair and maintenance time. It is, therefore, desired to make it efficient and effective. One of the conventional approaches is to use the fault tree diagram. But this approach is inadequate with its implicit system structure. Structure of the system means system elements and their interrelations. To alleviate this limitation, a new approach is suggested wherein the structure is in-built, i.e. incorporated explicitly, through digraph modeling that employs a systems approach of graph theory. A system digraph is developed, considering relationships among input and output parameters of subsystems/components of the automobile system in normal and failed conditions. Fault tree of a failure symptom that represents abnormality or a breakdown of the automobile system is obtained from the system digraph. The novelty is extension of the structural approach to automobile systems using digraph model, which has been successfully applied to chemical and process systems. Step-by-step methodology of the structural approach is presented. Its two main two steps are Steps 1 and 2, i.e. ‘Development of Fault tree diagram’ and ‘Diagnosis of fault using the tree diagram’, respectively. The suggested approach is illustrated for hydraulic power steering, an automobile system that is fitted on all current automobiles and particularly, in special purpose vehicles like heavy-duty trucks, earthmovers, dumpers, etc. The suggested approach guides how to diagnose root causes of a fault. The approach is not only helpful to maintenance personnel in effective diagnosis but also in guiding designers in development of reliable automobile systems, accident investigations of automobiles, etc.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Industrial Tribology Machine Dynamics and Maintenance Engineering Center, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India

    Ajith Tom James & O. P. Gandhi

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India

    S. G. Deshmukh

Authors
  1. Ajith Tom James
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  2. O. P. Gandhi
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  3. S. G. Deshmukh
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Correspondence to Ajith Tom James.

Appendix: Generalized operators for control loops—feedback and feedforward

Appendix: Generalized operators for control loops—feedback and feedforward

A major advantage of digraph based fault tree development for systems is its easiness in handling control loops. There are two types of control loops in the systems; feedback and feedforward. Lapp and Powers (1977) have suggested a generalized operator for the node that is on the path of feedback and feedforward loop, which is proposed for each type of loop.

1.1 Negative feedback loops

A control loop is designated as a negative feedback loop, when it has the capability to correct moderate disturbances in the system parameters. One can identify the negative feedback loop in a digraph as a path that begins and ends at the same node and for which the product of the normal gains is negative. Functionally, a disturbance can propagate through a feedback control loop in the following ways.

  1. 1.

    Large external disturbance enters loop; or

  2. 2.

    The control loop parameters themselves causing the disturbance;or

  3. 3.

    Combined effect of external disturbance entering the system and control loop fails to cancel it.

Based on the above conditions, a generalized operator that can be applied to any negative feedback control loop of any systems and represented diagrammatically in Fig. 10.

Fig. 10
figure 10

Operator for negative feedback loop

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1.2 Negative feedforward loops

A negative feedforward loop, prevent the disturbance propagating through the system by sensing an upstream parameter and manipulating the downstream parameter. A negative feedforward loop in a digraph has two important characteristics, i.e. it will be having two or more paths from one node to another node and sign of the product of the normal gains on one path is different from that of the others. In a negative feedforward loop, there is causative branch that propagates the disturbances along the path with the net positive gain and corrective branch that controls or cancels the disturbances by the path with the net negative gain. However, a negative feedforward loop will cancel disturbances that enter at the node, which is at the starting point of loop, i.e. the sensor node. A disturbance can propagate through a feedforward control loop in the following ways.

  1. 1.

    The feedforward loop fails to sense the disturbances, if it enters the loop at a node other than the sensor node.

  2. 2.

    The failure of the loop due to inactive or reversed devices that causes a correctable disturbance to enter the loop at the sensed node and pass through it without any corrective action.

The operator used for feedforward control loop is diagrammatically represented in Fig. 11.

Fig. 11
figure 11

Operator for negative feedforward loop

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James, A.T., Gandhi, O.P. & Deshmukh, S.G. Fault diagnosis of automobile systems using fault tree based on digraph modeling. Int J Syst Assur Eng Manag 9, 494–508 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13198-017-0693-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13198-017-0693-6

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