Dynamics of cascading failure in cyber-physical power systems from cyber attack

Abstract

Through communication network, cyber-physical power systems can effectively monitor and control physical power grid, but this also increases the danger to systems from cyber attack. In this paper, we study the cascading failure triggered by cyber attack, which infects cyber nodes through malware and to endanger physical nodes through coupling links. First, the flow and topology models for cyber-physical power systems are detailed. In communication network, we analyze the mechanism of diffusion and infection among cyber nodes, and differentiate cyber nodes into three types, corresponding to different state of cyber nodes before and after cyber attack. And in physical power grid, the types of physical nodes are also classified. For different state of cyber nodes, we detail their impact on physical nodes and power flows in physical power grid. Simulation analyzes the robustness of systems and dynamics of cascading failure in different attack scenes and topology structure.