Gas turbines are highly complex systems and it is particularly important to investigate the theory of gas turbine maintenance in order to improve the operational reliability of gas turbines.A Reliability-Centred Maintenance(RCM)analysis method is proposed and applied on the typical gas turbine gas path faults,which classifies the fault types,analyse the degree of fault hazards and the possible consequences of the faults,and predicts the impact on the performance parameters.The Failure Mode Effect Criticality Analysis(FMECA)process and criteria are established for diagnosing gas turbine gas path faults,and the role of RCM technology in fault diagnosis,prediction and maintenance planning is clarified.Compared with the time-based periodic maintenance,the RCM-based gas turbine maintenance method can help diagnose and analyse gas turbine gas path failures,implement a situational maintenance of the gas turbine gas path system based on their conditions to reduce over-maintenance or avoid under-maintenance,and hence optimize the maintenance outlines designed from the time-based maintenance.