Reducing Risk Through Inversion and Self-Strengthening

A number of new techniques for reliability improvement and risk reduction based on the inversion method, such as: ‘inverting design variables,' ‘inverting by maintaining an invariant,' ‘inverting resulting in a reinforcing counter-force,' ‘negating basic required functions' and ‘moving backwards to general and specific contributing factors' have been introduced for the first time. By using detailed calculations, it has been demonstrated how the new technique ‘repeated inversion maintaining an invariant' can be applied to reduce the risk of collision for multiple ships travelling at different times and with variable speeds. It has been demonstrated that for pressure vessels, an inversion of the geometric parameters by maintaining an invariant volume could result not only in an increased safety but also in a significantly reduced weight. The method of self-strengthening (self-reinforcement) has been introduced for the first time as a systematic method for improving reliability and reducing risk. The method of self-strengthening by capturing a proportional compensating factor and the method of self-strengthening by creating a positive feedback loop have been proposed for the first time as reliability improvement tools. Finally, classifications have been proposed of methods and techniques for risk reduction based on the methods of inversion and self-strengthening.