Research
Research Overview
Our research focuses on advancing the theoretical and methodological foundation of risk and reliability analysis for complex engineering systems, with a particular emphasis on energy systems.
Why is this field important?
Systematic risk and reliability analysis can help predict and prevent future failures, enhance safety and security, and improve the overall performance of complex engineering systems.
Advancing risk and reliability analysis is crucial to achieving a carbon-free energy paradigm while ensuring the safety, security, and resilience of critical energy systems. This includes the deployment of advanced nuclear reactors and the development of integrated energy systems.
Furthermore, the fundamental principles of risk and reliability analysis extend beyond energy sectors, including but not limited to, civil infrastructures, aerospace, industrial processes, and healthcare. Academic research aimed at advancing risk and reliability analysis can contribute to enhancing decision-making across diverse sectors and improving system outcomes throughout the entire lifecycle.
How do we approach?
We model complex engineering systems by combining:
- Systems modeling to analyze functional interrelationships among systems and their components.
- Phenomenological modeling and simulation to analyze the underlying phenomena that impact system performance (physics, human performance, and organizational processes).
- Statistical computation to quantify model inputs and outputs, accounting for uncertainties in the behavior of complex systems.
- AI and machine learning techniques are incorporated to efficiently handle large volumes of data and computational demands. This allows us to balance the resolution of risk and reliability models with scalability and practicality.
Research Areas
- Probabilistic risk assessment
- Probabilistic programming for modeling and simulation of complex cyber-physical-human systems
- Reliability and maintainability analysis
- Risk-benefit analysis and decision-making