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

Ajith Tom James (), O. P. Gandhi and S. G. Deshmukh
Additional contact information
Ajith Tom James: Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
O. P. Gandhi: Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
S. G. Deshmukh: Indian Institute of Technology Delhi

International Journal of System Assurance Engineering and Management, 2018, vol. 9, issue 2, No 14, 494-508

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: Automobile system; Fault diagnosis; Digraph model; Fault tree diagram; Hydraulic power steering; System structure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

Downloads: (external link)
http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s13198-017-0693-6 Abstract (text/html)
Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:ijsaem:v:9:y:2018:i:2:d:10.1007_s13198-017-0693-6

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.springer.com/engineering/journal/13198

DOI: 10.1007/s13198-017-0693-6

Access Statistics for this article

International Journal of System Assurance Engineering and Management is currently edited by P.K. Kapur, A.K. Verma and U. Kumar

More articles in International Journal of System Assurance Engineering and Management from Springer, The Society for Reliability, Engineering Quality and Operations Management (SREQOM),India, and Division of Operation and Maintenance, Lulea University of Technology, Sweden
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().