Lifetime Optimizing Clustering Structure Using Archimedes' Spiral-Based Deployment in WSNs

In wireless sensor networks (WSNs), preserving energy requires utmost attention, as they are highly resource constrained. Clustering is commonly considered as one of the efficient energy conservation techniques. In a clustered WSN, due to the nature of operation, cluster heads (CHs) near the sink bear the major share of data forwarding compared with the CHs far away from the sink, resulting in an energy hole problem. First, we have analyzed the optimization of network lifetime by balancing the energy consumption among different CHs. To meet the requirement of optimization of network lifetime, we have devised a routing-aware optimal clustering strategy. Further, keeping the network model in mind, we identify Archimedes' spiral, based on which a deployment function is proposed for distributing a member node and a CH. The performance of the optimal clustering strategy is evaluated in terms of energy balance and network lifetime. Simulation results show that our scheme provides satisfactory network performance in terms of end-to-end delay and throughput. Finally, all the results are compared with two competing schemes that confirm our scheme's supremacy in terms of both design performance metrics as well as network performance metrics.