Reliability Analysis of Interdependent Networks Using Percolation Theory

Many complex systems have functional interdependency between each other and can be modeled as interdependent networks. The failure of a small fraction of nodes in interdependent networks may lead to catastrophic cascading failures across network borders. Starting from a model of static interdependent networks, by introducing lifetime for each component, we study the reliability properties and lifetimes of the interdependent networks to which these components belong. Depending on the lifetime of the network components, the trigger of cascading failures will shape the interdependent networks reliability. In this framework, we analyze the evolution of the reliability properties of interdependent networks, and compare them with single networks. Interdependent SF networks are found to have lower reliability than interdependent ER networks.