A method of searching fault propagation paths in mechatronic systems based on MPPS model

In view of the structure and action behavior of mechatronic systems, a method of searching fault propagation paths called maximum-probability path search (MPPS) is proposed, aiming to determine all possible failure propagation paths with their lengths if faults occur. First, the physical structure system, function behavior, and complex network theory are integrated to define a system structural-action network (SSAN). Second, based on the concept of SSAN, two properties of nodes and edges, i.e., the topological property and reliability property, are combined to define the failure propagation property. Third, the proposed MPPS model provides all fault propagation paths and possible failure rates of nodes on these paths. Finally, numerical experiments have been implemented to show the accuracy and advancement compared with the methods of Function Space Iteration (FSI) and the algorithm of Ant Colony Optimization (ACO).