Cognitive modeling and dynamic probabilistic simulation of operating crew response to complex system accident (ADS-IDACrew)

The research presented in this dissertation has resulted in development, implementation, and demonstration of a model of the response of an operating crew to abnormal occurrences of complex system. The primary objective is to facilitate the study of human error during interactions with complex systems from both descriptive and predictive points of view.; A Nuclear Power Plant control room operating crew cognitive model (IDACrew) is developed for the purpose. Three types of operators with different responsibilities are modeled. Each operator's cognitive activities are divided into three phases: Information Perceiving (I), Diagnosis Selecting and Decision Making (D), and Action Taking (A). A set of cognitive rules are defined and applied for each operator's cognitive activity of these three phases.; A computer program, ADS-IDACrew, is developed to examine and demonstrate the capability of the IDACrew model. ADS-IDACrew is an integrated environment, which includes a Crew Module (IDACrew), a System Module, a Indicator Module, a Component-Failure Module, a Simulation Control (Scheduler) Module, and a User-Interface Module. The code simulates the operators' cognitive behavior and system responses. A Discrete Dynamic Event Tree (D-DET) is used to represent the various accident and a full scale Dynamic Probabilistic Risk Assessment scenarios.