Quantification and Enhancement of the Resilience of Infrastructure Networks

摘要

In this paper, network resilience is quantified by generalization of various notions used in the mathematical theory of network resilience. This algorithm is then used to create a quantitative framework for the resilience characterization of high-pressure natural gas networks. The key concepts are the notions of a network with associated delivery function and delivery importance. No model is available in the literature to measure the performance of high-pressure natural gas networks. In this paper, a new index measuring delivery importance of a gas network is proposed to evaluate the resilience of the entire network. The methodology can be used to consider and quantify the effects of any type of natural disasters such as earthquake and fire, or artificial hazards such as deliberate attacks on the system that may lead to the disruption of the system. The principles and theories applied to the natural gas supply and distribution network in this study can also be applied to other infrastructures that are interconnected and operate as a network, such as the electrical power and water supply and distribution systems. Furthermore, the present paper shows the characteristics of production and demand of natural gas in Iran and provides a data-based estimation of the future growth in production and consumption that is used in assessment of the resilience at a specific time in future. (C) 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers