Tunability in Topologically Complex Flow Networks.*

Animal vasculature and power grids are examples of natural and man-made flow networks whose optimal operation requires them to be adaptable, i.e. to tune their response according to dynamical changes in demand. Inspired by such systems, in this talk we explore the ability of complex flow networks to be tuned so that, given some specified boundary conditions, the pressure drops along a number of selected edges have predetermined values. In particular, we examine how the topology of the underlying network (e.g. from regular to small world to Erdos-Renyi) affects the ability of the network to be tuned.