Integration of a model-based systems engineering framework with safety assessment for early design phases: A case study for hydrogen-based aircraft fuel system architecting

Novel hydrogen-based aircraft concepts pose significant challenges for the system development process. This paper proposes a generic, adaptable, and multidisciplinary framework for integrated model-based systems engineering (MBSE) and model-based safety assessment (MBSA) for the conceptual design of...

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Main Authors: Nils Kuelper, Andrew K. Jeyaraj, Susan Liscouët-Hanke, Frank Thielecke
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-03-01
Series:Results in Engineering
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025003354
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author Nils Kuelper
Andrew K. Jeyaraj
Susan Liscouët-Hanke
Frank Thielecke
author_facet Nils Kuelper
Andrew K. Jeyaraj
Susan Liscouët-Hanke
Frank Thielecke
author_sort Nils Kuelper
collection DOAJ
description Novel hydrogen-based aircraft concepts pose significant challenges for the system development process. This paper proposes a generic, adaptable, and multidisciplinary framework for integrated model-based systems engineering (MBSE) and model-based safety assessment (MBSA) for the conceptual design of complex systems. The framework employs a multi-granularity, model-centric approach, whereby the architectural specification is utilized for design as well as query purposes as part of a qualitative and quantitative, graph-based preliminary safety assessment. For the qualitative assessment, design and safety rules based on existing standards and best practices are formalized in the model and applied to a graph-based architecture representation. Consequently, the remaining architectures are quantitatively assessed using automated fault trees. This safety-integrated approach is applied to the conceptual design of a liquid hydrogen fuel system architecture as a novel, uncertain, and complex system with many unknown system interrelations. This paper illustrates the potential of a combined MBSE-MBSA framework to streamline complex, early-stage system design and demonstrates that all qualitatively down-selected hydrogen system architecture variants also satisfy quantitative assessment. Furthermore, it is shown that the design space of novel systems is also constrained by safety and certification requirements, significantly reducing the number of actual feasible solutions.
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spelling doaj-art-d2875301a1994fa592dc1a10d2323c5d2025-08-20T02:13:28ZengElsevierResults in Engineering2590-12302025-03-012510424910.1016/j.rineng.2025.104249Integration of a model-based systems engineering framework with safety assessment for early design phases: A case study for hydrogen-based aircraft fuel system architectingNils Kuelper0Andrew K. Jeyaraj1Susan Liscouët-Hanke2Frank Thielecke3Institute of Aircraft Systems Engineering, Hamburg University of Technology, Nesspriel 5, Hamburg, 21129, Germany; Corresponding author.Department of Mechanical, Industrial, and Aerospace Engineering, Concordia University, 1455 Boul. de Maisonneuve Ouest, Montreal, H3G 1M8, QC, CanadaDepartment of Mechanical, Industrial, and Aerospace Engineering, Concordia University, 1455 Boul. de Maisonneuve Ouest, Montreal, H3G 1M8, QC, CanadaInstitute of Aircraft Systems Engineering, Hamburg University of Technology, Nesspriel 5, Hamburg, 21129, GermanyNovel hydrogen-based aircraft concepts pose significant challenges for the system development process. This paper proposes a generic, adaptable, and multidisciplinary framework for integrated model-based systems engineering (MBSE) and model-based safety assessment (MBSA) for the conceptual design of complex systems. The framework employs a multi-granularity, model-centric approach, whereby the architectural specification is utilized for design as well as query purposes as part of a qualitative and quantitative, graph-based preliminary safety assessment. For the qualitative assessment, design and safety rules based on existing standards and best practices are formalized in the model and applied to a graph-based architecture representation. Consequently, the remaining architectures are quantitatively assessed using automated fault trees. This safety-integrated approach is applied to the conceptual design of a liquid hydrogen fuel system architecture as a novel, uncertain, and complex system with many unknown system interrelations. This paper illustrates the potential of a combined MBSE-MBSA framework to streamline complex, early-stage system design and demonstrates that all qualitatively down-selected hydrogen system architecture variants also satisfy quantitative assessment. Furthermore, it is shown that the design space of novel systems is also constrained by safety and certification requirements, significantly reducing the number of actual feasible solutions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025003354AircraftComplex systemMBSEMBSASafetyConceptual design
spellingShingle Nils Kuelper
Andrew K. Jeyaraj
Susan Liscouët-Hanke
Frank Thielecke
Integration of a model-based systems engineering framework with safety assessment for early design phases: A case study for hydrogen-based aircraft fuel system architecting
Results in Engineering
Aircraft
Complex system
MBSE
MBSA
Safety
Conceptual design
title Integration of a model-based systems engineering framework with safety assessment for early design phases: A case study for hydrogen-based aircraft fuel system architecting
title_full Integration of a model-based systems engineering framework with safety assessment for early design phases: A case study for hydrogen-based aircraft fuel system architecting
title_fullStr Integration of a model-based systems engineering framework with safety assessment for early design phases: A case study for hydrogen-based aircraft fuel system architecting
title_full_unstemmed Integration of a model-based systems engineering framework with safety assessment for early design phases: A case study for hydrogen-based aircraft fuel system architecting
title_short Integration of a model-based systems engineering framework with safety assessment for early design phases: A case study for hydrogen-based aircraft fuel system architecting
title_sort integration of a model based systems engineering framework with safety assessment for early design phases a case study for hydrogen based aircraft fuel system architecting
topic Aircraft
Complex system
MBSE
MBSA
Safety
Conceptual design
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025003354
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