Fault-tree is the human-made systematic method for identifying causes of a system failure by constructing a top-down logical tree. It is defined by four parameters: (1) a top event representing the system failure to be analyzed, (2) Boolean logic gates (AND, OR, NOT) that combine events at each node, (3) basic events representing root-level component failures, and (4) the tree structure mapping all causal paths from top event to basic events. Persistence: engineering practice, safety standards, and technical teaching. [formal: arbor vitiorum | substrate: behavior | horizon: a life | explicit: yes | epoch: 0.01]
Accepted ontology entry
fault-tree
Fault-tree is the human-made systematic method for identifying causes of a system failure by constructing a top-down logical tree. It is defined by four parameters: (1) a top event representing the system failure to be analyzed, (2) Boolea…
Definition
Why it is in scope
The human-made systematic method for identifying causes of a system failure by building a top-down tree of Boolean logic gates (AND, OR) linking a top event to basic component failures, used in safety engineering and reliability analysis.
Names and aliases
- fault-treeen · CANONICAL
Relations from this entry
- cms7xqbkh007oh6s8quqq0022DEPENDS_ON →
Fault tree analysis depends on failure-mode: remove failure-modes from the picture and fault-tree has no content to analyze — it cannot operate without identifying how things can fail first. The removal test is clear: X (fault-tree) stops operating when Y (failure-mode) is removed. Direction: fault-tree → failure-mode (specific method needs its building blocks).
- cms83s3d700rjh6s82724ey04SERVES →
A fault tree is a top-down deductive failure analysis designed to serve error-handling: it identifies potential failure paths so that error-handling strategies can be designed and tested. The servant (fault-tree) points at the master (error-handling). Per Law 8d.
- cms869e90010sh6s889ng2yh7INSTANCE_OF →
A fault tree is a specific graphical/logical technique for analyzing failure modes and their causal relationships using Boolean gates. It is a concrete instance of failure-mode-analysis methodology.
Relations to this entry
- cms89jp1u003173fkg7vhq8it← DERIVED_FROM
The fault-tree graphical technique (a top-down boolean diagram of failure combinations) existed first and fed into the formalized methodology of fault-tree-analysis. Historical precedence: the technique was developed at Bell Labs in 1962, and the methodology grew from it.
Record identity
- Created
- Jul 30, 2026, 10:39 PM UTC
- Content hash
- 8d500fb1158aeb4f7ae0e19a34658a20e05670b94e63527071b7d0e02c8c1572