Evaluating the reliability of a stochastic distribution network in terms of minimal cuts

• Published in: Transportation research. Part E, Logistics and transportation review Vol. 100; pp. 75 - 97
• Main Authors: Niu, Yi-Feng, Gao, Zi-You, Lam, William H.K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier India Pvt Ltd 01.04.2017
• Subjects: D-minimal cut; Minimal cut; Reliability; Stochastic distribution network; Minimal cut; D-minimal cut; Reliability; Stochastic distribution network
• ISSN: 1366-5545; 1878-5794; 1878-5794
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tre.2017.01.008

•A d-minimal cuts based method is proposed to evaluate the reliability index Rd+1.•A novel technique is developed to find the minimal capacities of arcs.•Two judging criteria are presented to identify duplicate d-minimal cuts.•Our algorithm outperforms the existing methods in solving d-minimal cuts. This paper presents a d-minimal cut based algorithm to evaluate the performance index Rd+1 of a distribution network, defined as the probability that a specified demand d+1 can be successfully distributed through stochastic arc capacities from the source to the destination. To improve the efficiency of solving d-minimal cuts, a novel technique is developed to determine the minimal capacities of arcs. Also, two new judging criteria are proposed to detect duplicate d-minimal cuts. Both theoretical and computational results indicate that our algorithm outperforms the existing methods. Furthermore, a real case study is provided to illustrate the application of the algorithm.