Reliability and safety analysis of an Underwater Dry Maintenance Cabin

The effectiveness of an Underwater Dry Maintenance Cabin is mainly influenced not only by its capability but also by its reliability and safety. In this study, the reliability and safety of an Underwater Dry Maintenance Cabin are evaluated using fault tree analysis (FTA). The composition, mission characteristics, operational condition, and three kinds of typical faults were identified. The ultimate causes or factors combining to cause or contribute to the top events were determined using FTA. Based on minimum cut sets, the probability of system failure was then calculated through numerical simulations. The results showed that an Underwater Dry Maintenance Cabin is highly reliable and safe. Moreover, using the theory of Criticality Importance, the weak links of the system, which are required in making an effective preventative maintenance strategy, were identified. Finally, suggestions were proposed to improve the reliability of an Underwater Dry Maintenance Cabin.