Optimal load redistribution on interdependent networks under a novel flow interaction model

Abstract

Complex systems are always composed of many subsystems that exhibit interdependent relationship with each others. It becomes increasingly important across many fields to understand the effect of interdependence among these subsystems. In this paper, we consider a novel flow interaction model on a system comprising two networks with initial line loads and capacities. Once a line in one network is subjected to overload failure, its load will be redistributed to the whole system. Based on this model, we study how load transfer due to redistribution affects the dynamic process of failure propagation and the failure outbreak threshold. Furthermore, we solve an optimal load transfer problem to find the minimum cumulative cost on the low failure level. Our results provide theoretical guidance for optimal load scheduling to suppress cascades in the interdependent networks.