A framework for dependability evaluation of fieldbus networks

The paper presents a framework to evaluate dependability of fieldbus networks. An hierarchical modeling approach is proposed, which considers both the effects of different kinds of faults - permanent, transient and common-cause - and the interaction between hardware and software components. Stochastic Petri Nets are used as the modeling technique to obtain dependability models, with emphasis in the use of analytical/numerical methods to provide model's solutions.