Hybrid algorithm for two-terminal reliability evaluation in communication networks

Abstract

Network reliability is valuable in establishing a survivable communication network. Reliability evaluation algorithms are used in the design stage and during the network deployment. This work presents a new multistage hybrid technique for two-terminal reliability evaluation problem. It is based on a combination of graph reduction techniques and tie-set method. A new approach has been introduced for deducing tie-sets in a network containing both unidirectional and bi-directional edges. The proposed algorithm can be applied for both simple and complex networks without restrictions. The results confirm that new algorithm evaluates network's reliability with decreasing computing time compared to classical algorithms. The results for a case study of a 20-node network have demonstrated that the required time for reliability evaluation is decreased from (t>1 hour) in the case of using a classical algorithm, to (t<1 second) for the new algorithm.