16,798 research outputs found
Nonlocal failures in complex supply networks by single link additions
How do local topological changes affect the global operation and stability of
complex supply networks? Studying supply networks on various levels of
abstraction, we demonstrate that and how adding new links may not only promote
but also degrade stable operation of a network. Intriguingly, the resulting
overloads may emerge remotely from where such a link is added, thus resulting
in nonlocal failure. We link this counter-intuitive phenomenon to Braess'
paradox originally discovered in traffic networks. We use elementary network
topologies to explain its underlying mechanism for different types of supply
networks and find that it generically occurs across these systems. As an
important consequence, upgrading supply networks such as communication
networks, biological supply networks or power grids requires particular care
because even adding only single connections may destabilize normal network
operation and induce disturbances remotely from the location of structural
change and even global cascades of failures.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figure
Physics, Stability and Dynamics of Supply Networks
We show how to treat supply networks as physical transport problems governed
by balance equations and equations for the adaptation of production speeds.
Although the non-linear behaviour is different, the linearized set of coupled
differential equations is formally related to those of mechanical or electrical
oscillator networks. Supply networks possess interesting new features due to
their complex topology and directed links. We derive analytical conditions for
absolute and convective instabilities. The empirically observed "bull-whip
effect" in supply chains is explained as a form of convective instability based
on resonance effects. Moreover, it is generalized to arbitrary supply networks.
Their related eigenvalues are usually complex, depending on the network
structure (even without loops). Therefore, their generic behavior is
characterized by oscillations. We also show that regular distribution networks
possess two negative eigenvalues only, but perturbations generate a spectrum of
complex eigenvalues.Comment: For related work see http://www.helbing.or
Big data and humanitarian supply networks: Can Big Data give voice to the voiceless?
This is the author's accepted manuscript. The final published article is available from the link below. Copyright © 2013 IEEE.Billions of US dollars are spent each year in emergency aid to save lives and alleviate the suffering of those affected by disaster. This aid flows through a humanitarian system that consists of governments, different United Nations agencies, the Red Cross movement and myriad non-governmental organizations (NGOs). As scarcer resources, financial crisis and economic inter-dependencies continue to constrain humanitarian relief there is an increasing focus from donors and governments to assess the impact of humanitarian supply networks. Using commercial (`for-profit') supply networks as a benchmark; this paper exposes the counter-intuitive competition dynamic of humanitarian supply networks, which results in an open-loop system unable to calibrate supply with actual need and impact. In that light, the phenomenon of Big Data in the humanitarian field is discussed and an agenda for the `datafication' of the supply network set out as a means of closing the loop between supply, need and impact
Optimizing operations of large water supply networks: a case study
In this paper we propose a mathematical programming model for a large drinking water supply network and discuss some possible extensions. The proposed optimization model is of a real water distribution network, the largest water supply network in Flanders. The problem is nonlinear, nonconvex and involves some binary variables, making it belong to the class of NP-hard problems. We discuss a way to convexify the nonconvex term and show some results on two case instances of the actual network
Modeling Supply Networks and Business Cycles as Unstable Transport Phenomena
Physical concepts developed to describe instabilities in traffic flows can be
generalized in a way that allows one to understand the well-known instability
of supply chains (the so-called ``bullwhip effect''). That is, small variations
in the consumption rate can cause large variations in the production rate of
companies generating the requested product. Interestingly, the resulting
oscillations have characteristic frequencies which are considerably lower than
the variations in the consumption rate. This suggests that instabilities of
supply chains may be the reason for the existence of business cycles. At the
same time, we establish some link to queuing theory and between micro- and
macroeconomics.Comment: For related work see http://www.helbing.or
Network-Induced Oscillatory Behavior in Material Flow Networks
Network theory is rapidly changing our understanding of complex systems, but
the relevance of topological features for the dynamic behavior of metabolic
networks, food webs, production systems, information networks, or cascade
failures of power grids remains to be explored. Based on a simple model of
supply networks, we offer an interpretation of instabilities and oscillations
observed in biological, ecological, economic, and engineering systems. We find
that most supply networks display damped oscillations, even when their units -
and linear chains of these units - behave in a non-oscillatory way. Moreover,
networks of damped oscillators tend to produce growing oscillations. This
surprising behavior offers, for example, a new interpretation of business
cycles and of oscillating or pulsating processes. The network structure of
material flows itself turns out to be a source of instability, and cyclical
variations are an inherent feature of decentralized adjustments.Comment: For related work see http://www.helbing.or
Optimizing operations of large-scale water supply networks: a case study
In this paper we propose a mathematical programming model for a large drinking water supply network and discuss some possible extensions. The proposed optimization model is of a real water distribution network, the largest water supply network in Flanders. The problem is nonlinear, nonconvex and involves some binary variables, making it belong to the class of NP-hard problems. We discuss a way to convexify the nonconvex term and show some results on two case instances of the actual network
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