Network Reliability

by Ilya Gertsbakh and Yoseph Shpungin

Published 2 January 2020

This introductory book equips the reader to apply the core concepts and methods of network reliability analysis to real-life problems. It explains the modeling and critical analysis of systems and probabilistic networks, and requires only a minimal background in probability theory and computer programming.

Based on the lecture notes of eight courses taught by the authors, the book is also self-contained, with no theory needed beyond the lectures. The primary focus is on essential "modus operandi," which are illustrated in numerous examples and presented separately from the more difficult theoretical material.




Ternary means "based on three". This book deals with reliability investigations of networks whose components subject to failures can be in three states -up, down and middle (mid), contrary to traditionally considered networks having only binary (up/down) components. Extending binary case to ternary allows to consider more realistic and flexible models for communication, flow and supply networks

This book is devoted to the probabilistic description of the behavior of a network in the process of random removal of its components (links, nodes) appearing as a result of technical failures, natural disasters or intentional attacks. It is focused on a practical approach to network reliability and resilience evaluation, based on applications of Monte Carlo methodology to numerical approximation of network combinatorial invariants, including so-called multidimensional destruction spectra. This allows to develop a probabilistic follow-up analysis of the network in the process of its gradual destruction, to identify most important network components and to develop efficient heuristic algorithms for network optimal design. Our methodology works with satisfactory accuracy and efficiency for most applications of reliability theory to real -life problems in networks.