Optimization problems of the third edge-connectivity of graphs

The third edge-connectivity λ3(G) of a graph G is defined as the minimum cardinality over all sets of edges, if any, whose deletion disconnects G and each component of the resulting graph has at least 3 vertices. An upper bound has been established for λ3(G) whenever λ3(G) is well-defined. This paper first introduces two combinatorial optimization concepts, that is, maximality and superiority, of λ3(G), and then proves the Ore type sufficient conditions for G to be maximally and super third edge-connected. These concepts and results are useful in network reliability analysis.