Improvement on Load-Induced Cascading Failure in Asymmetrical Interdependent Networks: Modeling and Analysis

Many real-world systems can be depicted as interdependent networks and they usually show an obvious property of asymmetry. Furthermore, node or edge failure can trigger load redistribution which leads to a cascade of failure in the whole network. In order to deeply investigate the load-induced cascading failure, firstly, an asymmetrical model of interdependent network consisting of a hierarchical weighted network and a WS small-world network is constructed. Secondly, an improved “load-capacity” model is applied for node failure and edge failure, respectively, followed by a series of simulations of cascading failure over networks in both interdependent and isolated statuses. The simulation results prove that the robustness in isolated network changes more promptly than that in the interdependent one. Network robustness is positively related to “capacity,” but negatively related to “load.” The hierarchical weight structure in the subnetwork leads to a “plateau” phenomenon in the progress of cascading failure.