A Study of Robustness and Resilience of Power Grid Networks - MSc Thesis Defense by: Sudharshan Sundararajan

Abstract:
This study explores the resilience and robustness of power grid networks through a combination of centrality-based analysis and site percolation theory. The investigation uses real-world power gird datasets power grids to understand how critical nodes influence overall network stability. Node importance is assessed using centrality measures. To evaluate network robustness, we simulate attacks under two removal strategies: random node failures and targeted removal of high-centrality nodes.
Another focus of this study is on site percolation, where we employ the generating function formalism to study the network. This study of percolation enables to identify the critical percolation threshold at which the network transitions from a connected to a fragmented state and vice-vesa. This approach provides a quantitative understanding of network vulnerability and structural weakness.