A Cascading Failure Model for Command and Control Networks with Hierarchy Structure

Xiue Gao,Keqiu Li,Bo Chen,Duoping Zhang

doi:10.1155/2018/6063837

Xiue Gao, Keqiu Li + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/6063837

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Abstract

Cascading failures in the command and control networks (C2 networks) could substantially affect the network invulnerability to some extent. In particular, without considering the characteristics of hierarchy structure, it is quite misleading to employ the existing cascading failure models and effectively analyze the invulnerability of C2 networks. Therefore, a novel cascading failure model for command and control networks with hierarchy structure is proposed in this paper. Firstly, a method of defining the node’s initial load in C2 networks based on hierarchy-degree is proposed. By applying the method, the impact of organizational positions and the degree of the node on its initial load could be highlighted. Secondly, a nonuniform adjustable load redistribution strategy (NALR strategy) is put forward in this paper. More specifically, adjusting the redistribution coefficient could allocate the load from failure nodes to the higher and the same level neighboring nodes according to different proportions. It could be demonstrated by simulation results that the robustness of C2 networks against cascading failures could be dramatically improved by adjusting the initial load adjustment coefficient, the tolerance parameter, and the load redistribution coefficient. And finally, comparisons with other relational models are provided to verify the rationality and effectiveness of the model proposed in this paper. Subsequently, the invulnerability of C2 networks could be enhanced.

Highlights

With the constant evolution of information warfare, C2 networks have become the nerve center of the information warfare system in the confrontation environment
(iv) We investigated the influence of model parameters on the cascading failure in C2 networks, and the results show that optimal model parameters could enhance the invulnerability of C2 networks
It has been extensively verified that the C2 network is a scale-free network [46], in which the majority of nodes have smaller degrees compared to a few nodes with high degrees

Summary

Introduction

With the constant evolution of information warfare, C2 networks have become the nerve center of the information warfare system in the confrontation environment. The cascading failure model is the most popular research for C2 networks cascading failures It introduces the definition of initial load and capacity of the node, the load redistribution strategy for failure nodes, the effect of different attack strategies on network cascading failure, and invulnerability evaluation for network cascades. In the field of C2 network cascading failure research, Zhu et al [38] constructed a C2 network cascading failure model by defining the node initial load based on betweenness. (v) The cascading failure model proposed in this paper would better reflect the network invulnerability against both failure and attack, and it provides a theoretical basis for designing and optimizing the structure of C2 networks.

The Cascading Failure Model for C2 Networks

Load Redistribution for the Failure Node

Experimental Results and Analyses

Conclusions