Modeling of communication systems dependency on electric power during nuclear attacks

This paper presents modeling of communication systems dependency on electric power during nuclear attacks. Resiliency models are used to characterize cell site dependencies on the main power grid and transportation system for generator back up fuel. Primary failure due to direct damage and secondary failures due to dependencies versus yield are studied considering the effects of radiation, blast wave and the thermal effects in the analyzed region. The dependency analysis considers travel times in the road system for diesel generator backup fuel. The impact of buffers, such as energy storage, on failure propagation between infrastructures is discussed. The time dependent resiliency functions derived show that beyond the initial blast zone, the probability of grid failure and travel delays concurrently lead to poor resiliency in the absence of energy storage. Cell site resiliency functions are used to prescribe guidelines for mobile cell site and substation deployment.