PSAM 16 Conference Paper Overview
Welcome to the PSAM 16 Conference paper and speaker overview page.
Lead Author: Tate Shorthill Co-author(s): Han Bao, han.bao@inl.gov
Edward Chen, echen2@inl.gov
Heng Ban, heng.ban@pitt.edu
| An Application of a Modified Beta Factor Method for the Analysis of Software Common Cause Failures |
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| This paper presents an approach for modeling software common cause failures (CCFs) within digital instrumentation and control systems. CCFs consist of a concurrent failure between two or more components due to a shared failure cause and coupling mechanism. This work emphasizes the importance of identifying software-centric attributes related to the coupling mechanisms necessary for simultaneous failures of redundant software components. The groups of components which share coupling mechanisms are called common cause component groups (CCCGs). Most CCF models rely on operational data as the basis for establishing CCCG parameters and predicting CCFs. This work is motivated by two primary concerns: (1) a lack of operational and CCF data for defining software CCF model parameters; (2) the need to model single components as part of multiple CCCGs simultaneously. An approach was developed to account for these concerns by leveraging existing techniques; a modified beta factor method allows single components to be placed within multiple CCCGs, while a second technique provides software-specific model parameters for each CCCG. This hybrid approach provides a means to overcome the limitations of conventional methods while offering support for design decisions under the limited data scenario. |
Paper TH317 Preview
Author and Presentation Info
Lead Author Name: Tate Shorthill (ths60@pitt.edu)
Bio: Tate Shorthill is a PhD candidate in mechanical engineering at the University of Pittsburgh seeking to advance the capabilities of risk assessment within the nuclear industry. In 2019, Tate started his work in risk assessment when he joined Idaho National Laboratory as a contractor under the U.S. Department of Energy Light Water Reactor Sustainability program. Tate has since played a critical role in the development of INL’s core capabilities for the risk assessment of digital instrumentation and control (I&C) systems. His work on the identification and quantification of risks associated with highly redundant, safety-related, digital I&C systems have been published in both the Annals of Nuclear Energy and Nuclear Technology journals. Additionally, Tate has a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Utah State University where he gained experience in the areas of thermal properties, and molecular dynamics.
Country: United States of America
Company: University of Pittsburgh
Job Title: PhD Candidate
Bio: Tate Shorthill is a PhD candidate in mechanical engineering at the University of Pittsburgh seeking to advance the capabilities of risk assessment within the nuclear industry. In 2019, Tate started his work in risk assessment when he joined Idaho National Laboratory as a contractor under the U.S. Department of Energy Light Water Reactor Sustainability program. Tate has since played a critical role in the development of INL’s core capabilities for the risk assessment of digital instrumentation and control (I&C) systems. His work on the identification and quantification of risks associated with highly redundant, safety-related, digital I&C systems have been published in both the Annals of Nuclear Energy and Nuclear Technology journals. Additionally, Tate has a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Utah State University where he gained experience in the areas of thermal properties, and molecular dynamics.
Country: United States of America
Company: University of Pittsburgh
Job Title: PhD Candidate