A Formal Transformation Method for Automated Fault Tree Generation from a UML Activity Model

TL;DR

This paper presents a formal method to automatically generate fault trees from UML activity models using propositional calculus and probability theory, demonstrated on a traffic management system.

Contribution

It introduces a novel transformation approach that maps UML control flows to fault trees, incorporating fault propagation chains and a comprehensive metamodel.

Findings

Successfully applied to a Traffic Management System of Systems

Reflects system behavior structure in fault tree design

Discusses potential extensions to other UML diagrams

Abstract

Fault analysis and resolution of faults should be part of any end-to-end system development process. This paper is concerned with developing a formal transformation method that maps control flows modeled in UML Activities to semantically equivalent Fault Trees. The transformation method developed features the use of propositional calculus and probability theory. Fault Propagation Chains are introduced to facilitate the transformation method. An overarching metamodel comprised of transformations between models is developed and is applied to an understood Traffic Management System of Systems problem to demonstrate the approach. In this way, the relational structure of the system behavior model is reflected in the structure of the Fault Tree. The paper concludes with a discussion of limitations of the transformation method and proposes approaches to extend it to object flows, State Machines and functional allocations.