Power Grid Cascade Failure

Overload redistribution triggers cascading blackouts across interconnected nodes

Grid Setup

Nodes24

Connectivity0.25

Overload threshold1.5

Cascade Control

Nodes active—

Failed nodes0

Overloaded0

Cascade step0

Cascade Failure: When a node fails, its load redistributes to neighbors. If neighbors exceed capacity, they fail too, creating a cascade. Real-world example: Northeast blackout 2003 — a software bug and tree contact caused 55 million people to lose power within 7 seconds.