Mathematical Foundations of System Safety Engineering

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xvi

   PDF

2. Introduction

   • Richard R. Zito

   Pages 1-28

3. Fundamentals

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 29-29

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   2. Decomposition of the Failure Histogram

      • Richard R. Zito

      Pages 31-49

   3. Bounding the “Black Swan” Probability

      • Richard R. Zito

      Pages 51-62

   4. The Risk Surface

      • Richard R. Zito

      Pages 63-76

4. Electronics

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 77-77

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   2. The Bent Pin Problem—I: Computer Search Methods

      • Richard R. Zito

      Pages 79-91

   3. The Bent Pin Problem—II: Matrix Methods

      • Richard R. Zito

      Pages 93-102

   4. The Bent Pin Problem—III: Number Theory Methods

      • Richard R. Zito

      Pages 103-114

   5. The Bent Pin Problem—IV: Limit Methods

      • Richard R. Zito

      Pages 115-123

   6. The Bent Pin Problem—V: Experimental Methods

      • Richard R. Zito

      Pages 125-142

   7. “Sneak Circuits” and Related System Safety Electrical Problems––I: Matrix Methods

      • Richard R. Zito

      Pages 143-159

   8. “Sneak Circuits” and Related System Safety Electrical Problems-II: Computer Search Methods

      • Richard R. Zito

      Pages 161-176

5. Software

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 177-177

      PDF

   2. Predicting Software Performance

      • Richard R. Zito

      Pages 179-190

   3. Alternative Flowcharts for a Mathematical Analysis of Logic

      • Richard R. Zito

      Pages 191-202

   4. Fail-Safe Control Software

      • Richard R. Zito

      Pages 203-215

6. Dangerous Goods

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 217-217

      PDF

   2. Design Phase Elimination of Beryllium

      • Richard R. Zito

      Pages 219-236

This graduate-level textbook elucidates low-risk and fail-safe systems in mathematical detail.  It addresses, in particular, problems where mission-critical performance is paramount, such as in aircraft, missiles, nuclear reactors and weapons, submarines, and many other types of systems where “failure” can result in overwhelming loss of life and property. The book is divided into four parts: Fundamentals, Electronics, Software, and Dangerous Goods. The first part on Fundamentals addresses general concepts of system safety engineering that are applicable to any type of system.  The second part, Electronics, addresses the detection and correction of electronic hazards.  In particular, the Bent Pin Problem, Sneak Circuit Problem, and related electrical problems are discussed with mathematical precision.  The third part on Software addresses predicting software failure rates as well as detecting and correcting deep software logical flaws (called defects).  Thefourth part on Dangerous Goods presents solutions to three typical industrial chemical problems faced by the system safety engineer during the design, storage, and disposal phases of a dangerous goods’ life cycle.

 

• System Safety Engineering
• life cycle of materials
• System Safety in Electronics, Software, and Dangerous Goods
• Detection and correction of electronic hazards
• Bent Pin, Sneak Circuit
• System Safety in software engineering
• quality control, reliability, safety and risk

• 5511 N. Fort Yuma Trail, Tucson, USA

  Richard R. Zito

Richard R. Zito received his doctorate in physics from the University of Arizona.  He is the author of over 100 articles, the inventor on 14 patents, and has been awarded four Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) awards.  In addition to system safety engineering, Dr. Zito's research interests include industrial micro-contamination control, optics, thin films, electronics and computer science, isotope geology, geophysics, planetary geology, space science, astronomy, spacecraft propulsion systems, and chemistry.  Dr. Zito is presently the manager of Richard R. Zito LLC, a research company in Tucson, Arizona.

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