A system and method for combining conclusions from multiple fault
detection techniques to isolate likely faults in a turbine engine is
provided. The system and method provide the ability to effectively deal
with multiple concurrent faults in the engine. Additionally, the
embodiments of the invention provide the ability to correctly
characterize multiple conclusions generated from evidence having
different levels of interdependence. In one embodiment, the conclusions
based on device data with high dependency are aggregated using a high
dependency aggregation rule, and the resulting high-dependency sets are
then further aggregated using a weak dependency rule. Finally, any
conclusions based on independent evidence can be aggregated using an
independent combination rule. The resulting aggregation determines which
fault(s) are most likely indicated by the plurality of conclusions, taken
into account the dependency of the device data used to generate the
conclusions.