Cascading Failure Modeling for Circuit Systems Using Impedance Networks: A Current-Flow Redistribution Approach

The collapse of circuits is usually a cascading failure rather than a simple failure event. It is usually difficult to model this kind of failure due to the complex structural and functional coupling. In this article, the impedance network is introduced as a prototypical model for characterizing the cascading failure of the circuit. A current-flow redistribution approach is proposed to analyze the cascading failure mechanisms of the circuits. Specific current-flow redistribution factors for two typical failure modes, i.e., the open circuit and short circuit, are put forward to determine the effect of the failed component on the remaining components. A health confidence value is further introduced to assess the health status of the impedance network. Then, a simulation framework for cascading failure propagation is proposed to capture the dynamic failure process. Finally, an example is presented to show the cascading failure behavior. The proposed model is also validated by comparing the obtained results with those of the SPICE software simulation.