ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: The primary objective of this paper is to summarize the simulation-based probabilistic methodology for evaluation of performance of spatially distributed systems serving urban population centers under operational and extreme event conditions. The methodology is multidisciplinary involving disciplines of engineering, economics, natural and social sciences. The methodology promotes the system design based on robustness, resilience and sustainability. Critical infrastructures typically include utility and transportation networks which are operationally and functionally interdependent and interactive. The system performance is defined in terms of robustness, resilience and sustainability. This paper focuses on analysis of system robustness and resilience and makes some observations with respect to sustainability. For the purpose of clearly demonstrating the methodology, this paper deals with a model developed for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s (LADWP’s) power system as part of Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) grid, and the model is used to simulate its robustness and resilience under a set of scenario earthquakes consistent with the regional seismic hazard defined by USGS. The result of the simulation agreed with the robustness and resilience actually demonstrated by the system under the Northridge earthquake. In addition, by employing the model of the entire WECC grid, it is possible to analyze the power flow status within the grid under various component disablements.
