2026/03/04 by von Mallinckrodt · 1 voice
paper · doi:10.5281/zenodo.18862467
openalex publication_date 2026/03/04 · openalex created_date 2026/03/05 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/01
Structural Compression and System Fragility: Introducing the CRTI Diagnostic Ratio for Complex Adaptive Systems This research note introduces the Structural Compression Framework and the Compression–Resonance–Tension Index (CRTI) as a conceptual diagnostic model for analyzing fragility and instability in complex adaptive systems. The central hypothesis of the framework is that many systems do not primarily fail because of chaos, but because of excessive structural compression. Structural compression describes the density of constraints, rules, couplings, and institutional rigidities that limit the degrees of freedom within a system. When such compression interacts with external stress faster than the system can adapt, the capacity for resilient response collapses. The framework expresses this relationship through the diagnostic ratio: CRTI = (C × S) / A Where: C – Structural Compression Represents the density of constraints, coupling, regulatory structures, or institutional rigidity within a system. S – Systemic Stress Represents external shocks, volatility, environmental disturbances, or resource pressures acting on the system. A – Adaptive Capacity Represents the ability of the system to reorganize, absorb disturbances, generate alternative responses, and maintain functional resilience. The instability condition is defined as: C × S > A Under this condition, the interaction between structural compression and systemic stress exceeds the adaptive capacity of the system, increasing the probability of systemic instability or collapse. The Structural Compression Framework is conceptually inspired by principles from cybernetics, complexity science, and resilience theory, particularly the idea that systems must maintain sufficient internal variety in order to absorb environmental perturbations. When structural compression reduces internal variety, systems become increasingly brittle and vulnerable to cascading failure. This research note presents: • the conceptual definition of Structural Compression • the mathematical formulation of the CRTI diagnostic ratio • potential empirical proxies for financial systems, infrastructure networks, and governance structures • methodological approaches for empirical validation • limitations of the current framework • a proposed research roadmap for future testing and refinement. Possible empirical testing approaches include: historical back-testing of systemic crises (financial crises, infrastructure failures, supply chain disruptions) agent-based modeling (ABM) simulations of constrained systems under varying stress conditions network topology analysis of tightly coupled infrastructures. The framework is proposed as a Candidate Diagnostic Model for identifying systemic fragility across multiple domains, including: economic and financial systems infrastructure and energy networks governance and organizational structures ecological and socio-technical systems. Future research aims to explore dimensional normalization of the CRTI variables, empirical calibration using historical datasets, and simulation-based validation of the instability condition. The Structural Compression Framework aims to contribute to the broader scientific discussion on systemic risk, resilience, and the dynamics of fragility in complex adaptive systems. Keywords complex systems complex adaptive systems systemic risk structural compression CRTI index system fragility resilience theory cybernetics nonlinear dynamics network resilience organizational complexity system collapse adaptive capacity system stability complexity science system diagnostics resilience analysis