Automatic safety model synthesis for aircraft conceptual design

Abstract Unconventional aircraft systems using novel technologies can be an important contribution to reduce aviation’s impact on climate. To assess different architectures in conceptual design studies, system safety becomes an important issue. Model-based safety assessment (MBSA) has the capability to reduce the workload for analyzing safety, but still safety model construction remains difficult and time-consuming. Reducing this effort is therefore crucial for the application of MBSA in conceptual aircraft design. A novel approach for the synthesis of simple safety models from a limited set of predefined safety model elements is presented, reducing workload for safety model generation. The method is integrated within the safety analysis tool of the systems modeling framework SystemXF and it uses AltaRica 3.0 as safety modeling language. An example application to the Wheel Brake System from ARP 4761 is presented. The example shows that very different components can correctly be modeled with the presented methodology. The chosen example is even more detailed than typically required for conceptual aircraft design studies. The approach is therefore a step towards a broader application of Model-based safety assessment in conceptual design studies by users who not necessarily are safety experts.