Fault tree analysis of lifeline system reliability

Lifelines, such as pipeline, transportation, communication, electric transmission and medical rescues systems 9 are complicated network that always distribute spatially over large geological and geographic units. The quantification of the reliability under earthquake invading requires attention, because the performance of these systems during or after a destructive earthquake is vital to estimate direct and indirect economic losses from lifeline failures, and design the rescuing plan. This research aims to develop a new earthquake reliability calculation methodology for lifeline systems under interactions during earthquake. The methodology, which evaluates the network reliability of lifeline systems after the earthquake invades, is combined fault tree analysis with geological information system. In this paper, the lifeline systems are idealized as equivalent networks with their element, nodes and links, being random and spatially correlated. The destruct mechanisms of lifeline systems with interaction are built based on the summary of their earthquake damage characteristic. A case study presents to show the implementation of the methodology.