Design of endurable networks in the presence of aging

TL;DR

This paper introduces the concept of network endurance to design networks that maintain connectivity over their lifespan despite component aging, balancing network duration and robustness.

Contribution

It proposes a framework for designing endurable networks by allocating component lifetimes based on a limited budget, using percolation theory and simulations.

Findings

Maximal network endurance achieved by balancing duration and connectivity.

Optimal design varies with endurance requirements, depending on node lifetime dependence.

Quantitative prediction of network endurance based on topology.

Abstract

Networks are designed to satisfy given objectives under specific requirements. While the static connectivity of networks is normally analyzed and corresponding design principles for static robustness are proposed, the challenge still remains of how to design endurable networks that maintain the required level of connectivity during its whole lifespan, against component aging. We introduce network endurance as a new concept to evaluate networks overall performance during its whole lifespan, considering both network connectivity and network duration. We develop a framework for designing an endurable network by allocating the expected lifetimes of its components, given a limited budget. Based on percolation theory and simulation, we find that the maximal network endurance can be achieved with a quantitative balance between network duration and connectivity. For different endurance requirements, we find that the optimal design can be separated into two categories: strong dependence of lifetime on node's degree leads to larger network lifetime, while weak dependence generates stronger network connectivity. Our findings could help network design, by providing a quantitative prediction of network endurance based on network topology.