A Realistic Failure Propagation Model for Smart Grid Networks

A smart grid connects components of power systems and communication networks through complex and interdependent relationships. The heterogeneous nature of these systems and interdependencies between their elements make them vulnerable to cyber attacks. Hence, reliable approaches should be used to secure the smart grid. In this paper, we propose a novel cyberattack failure propagation model in a smart grid environment. Our Realistic Failure Propagation (RFP) model addresses the system's heterogeneity by assigning different roles to its components. We define rules and interdependencies for failure propagation and propose a new process to study the behavior of cascading failures. The RFP model implements power flow analysis to ensure that all transmission lines work under their capacity and remove lines that exceed the capacity.